NORTH BERGEN BRIEFS

Guttenberg hires new cop, receives funds for park

Guttenberg hired a new special police officer at their Town Council meeting on April 26.
Chad J. Smith was hired as a Class II Special Law Enforcement Officer, which are part-time officers used in New Jersey to supplement full-time police.
Mayor Gerald Drasheff said that Guttenberg has maintain four to five special police officers and that it has been an efficient use of funds for their police department.
“They have full police powers,” said Drasheff. “They give us increased coverage on the street that we wouldn’t normally have.”
Also at the meeting, Police Officer Joseph Keselica was appointed as a permanent police officer after serving a probationary period since Feb. 23. He started off in the department as a special police officer as well.
Guttenberg also voted for a resolution to return operating the town back to a calendar year, after switching to a fiscal year (July-June) several years ago. The resolution allowed them to support applying to the Local Finance Board to complete the conversion.
“It makes it easier for us to keep track of expenses,” said Drasheff. He said that the change will make it easier for residents to understand what their taxes are paying for, for since the formulas will be based on the calendar year (January to December).
Guttenberg also approved receiving $114,023 from K. Hovnanian. The developer has agreed to give them the sum for the construction of a waterfront walkway for the town’s waterfront park project.
“K. Hovnanian had an obligation to build a walkway that would have to go with our park that was tied into them developing the property to the north,” said Drasheff. “It doesn’t look like they are going to be developing that property to the north…but we have reached a settlement.”
Drasheff said that the town and the Guttenberg Board of Education have also begun meeting over what they will do with the $14 million school budget, which was rejected by voters in the recent election.
“[The budget was already] cutting 20 to 25 staff members, so deciding whether or not to cut further and still maintain any level of reasonable education is going to be hard to do, and that’s what we’re looking at,” said Drasheff.

‘SCHMUSE’ inviting North Hudson artists

Hosted by Lynn Earley of the ‘Smart Party’ non-drinking entertainment concept, ‘SCHMUSE,’ a weekly art event for creative locals, is beginning on May 6.
The weekly event will be held at Bruschetta Restaurant, located at 7709 Bergenline Ave., from 7 to 10 p.m.
Singers and songwriters, musicians, actors, poets, artists, and photographers are welcome to the event. Earley will be participating in the first show herself, along with Ninetta Nappi, a local artist and photographer.
To participate or for more information, contact Earley at satorispace@yahoo.com.

Correction

Our publication incorrectly identified the winner of the “Best Single Ad Any Size, Multi-Spot or Full,” created for Bayonne Medical Center by The Hudson Reporter. The award winning ad, “David vs Goliath,” was in fact designed by Spot On! Creative Group LLC. of Montclair, N.J. We apologize for any confusion and congratulate Spot On! Creative Group on their campaign.
“We appreciate the honor and are proud of our team for conceiving and producing this compelling ad,” said Kevin Riedy, partner and creative director.

Free pregnancy health fair

Palisades Medical Center will be hosting “Everything you need to know about Your Pregnancy” on Saturday, May 15 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Physicians, midwives, nutritionists, lactation consultants, and other health professionals will be present to discuss everything about pregnancy, from preconception to postpartum recovery.
Information will be available in both English and Spanish.
Free parking, food and refreshments will be provided.
Space is limited. To R.S.V.P., call Nikki Mederos at (201) 854-5702.

Business networking event

NetworkPLUS will hold its weekly business networking event on May 5 at the Crab House Restaurant, located at 541 River Road in Edgewater.
Admission is $10 with a prix fixe lunch menu, including tax and gratuity, for an additional $15. The vent will run from noon to 1:30 p.m.
On May 12 and 19 NetworkPLUS will hold evening events at the Crab House from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission will be $10, with a prix fixe appetizer buffet for an additional $15. Happy hour specials are available from 4 to 7 p.m.
To R.S.V.P., contact Facilitator Alex Soast at asoast@joinnetworkplus.com or visit www.meetup.com/np-nbew.

© 2000, Newspaper Media Group