Allegations abound regarding hiring of poll workers in WNY
Dr. Felix Roque’s Together We Can Campaign released a press release Wednesday alleging that the current mayoral administration of Sal Vega, whom Roque is challenging for re-election, has taken steps to stack the polls with pro-Vega poll workers on Election Day – an allegation that West New York Town Clerk Carmela Riccie says is “not true” and “unfair.”
Dr. Roque and his team – Count J. Wiley, Caridad Rodriguez, Fior D’Aliza Frias, and Ruben Vargas – are running against Vega and the incumbent Board of Commissioners in the municipal election on May 10.
In the press release, Roque alleges that over a dozen poll workers who had worked at local polls in past years were notified that their services were not needed for this election, with no explanation rendered.
According to Riccie, Roque “jumped the gun,” and these are “premature accusations.” West New York poll workers are chosen in an ongoing process, she said, and people not reappointed in the first step of the process can be re-appointed in successive steps.
A letter was sent yesterday by the Together We Can campaign to the state Division of Elections and other law enforcement officials requesting an investigation into the matter.
Baa-aa-ad news: Mary had a little lamb…and left it in Union City
UNION CITY AND BEYOND — Maybe somebody rescued it from a butcher shop, or thought it would have a better life with a different family. Whatever the reason, a lamb in a wooden box was found on the sidewalk in front of 2408 Bergenline Ave. in Union City on Monday.
According to NJ.com, the lamb was found shortly before midnight and was taken to police headquarters, where it found a foster home until animal control officials could take it the next day.
Its parents have not stepped forward to reclaim their lost (or forsaken) friend or to reveal whether it eats ivy.
Upcoming dates announced for UC Mobile Mayor’s Office
The dates and locations for the upcoming Union City Mobile Mayor’s Office are the following: Tuesday, March 29 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 2601 Central Ave. (Community Room); Thursday, March 31 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Senior Citizen Building, 3700 Palisade Ave. (Community Room); and Tuesday, April 5 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Union City Police Department Motorcycle Squad, 417 43rd St.
If you are unable to make the listed dates, call Mayor Brian P. Stack at (201) 376-1942 to make arrangements for a home visit.
Kennedy Boulevard named fifth most dangerous road in New Jersey for pedestrians
Hudson County pedestrians, beware. Kennedy Boulevard has been named the county’s most dangerous road for those who travel the road on foot by the non-profit organization Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
The road was found to be so dangerous, in fact, that it has been named one of the five most dangerous in the state, with six pedestrian fatalities between 2007 and 2009, according to a report released last month.
Those fatalities account for a little more than a fifth of the county’s 29 pedestrian deaths in the three-year period.
Kennedy Boulevard runs the length of the county, and alongside four county parks and two universities and high schools in Union City and Bayonne.
The Tri-State Transportation advocates for the reduced use of automobiles in the tri-state area.
CASA seeks volunteers
Are you interested in helping children in the foster care system? If so, Hudson County CASA is currently recruiting volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes.
CASA (court appointed special advocate) and its volunteers speak for children in court, serve as fact finders for the judges, and safeguard the interests of the children while they are in the foster care system.
Information sessions regarding the program and the role of its volunteers will be held on Tuesday, April 5 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Room 400 of the Hudson County Administration Building at 595 Newark Ave., Jersey City.
Hudson County has nearly 700 children in foster care; most have been removed from their homes for abuse or neglect. For further information, please call (201) 795-9855, e-mail mgarcia@hudsoncountycasa.org, or visit our website at www.hudsoncountycasa.org.
“Run the Palisades” for Diabetes
On Sunday, May 15, the communities of Cliffside Park and Fort Lee and the Diabetes Foundation, Inc. will host their Third Annual “Run the Palisades” 5K Run/Walk and Health Fair, beginning at Cliffside Park High School and running through the towns of Cliffside Park and Fort Lee.
Runners of all ages are welcome to participate and walkers are encouraged to register, too. This is a USATF certified flat and fast course. At 9:30 a.m. there will also be a Healthy Kids Fun-Run in which ribbons will be given to all who cross the finish line.
Awards will be given out in all age categories. Pre-registration is strongly suggested at www.firstgiving.com/dfi or www.raceforum.com/palisades. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the race. T-shirts will be given to all pre-registered participants and while supplies last on race day. Sponsorships are still available and range from $250 at the Community Level to $5,000 at the Platinum Level.
Beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m., the Health Fair will be held inside the Cliffside Park High School, and is open to everyone. Local hospitals will be present offering important screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, eye and foot, all free of charge. There will be a variety of vendors and exhibits to educate on all aspects of health, wellness, fitness, and lifestyle improvements. Special focus will be given to people with diabetes and raising awareness of the incidence of diabetes in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area. With 57 million people now diagnosed with pre-diabetes, 750,000 just in New Jersey, the disease is rising to epidemic proportions.
For more information, contact the Diabetes Foundation, Inc. at (201) 444-0337 or email: info@diabetesfoundationinc.org
NJMC hosts birding activities
The First-Sunday-of-the-Month Bird Walk with the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society will be held on Sunday, April 3, at 10 a.m.
This free two-hour nature walk starts at the entrance to Losen Slote Creek Marsh in Little Ferry, looking for spring arrivals and waterfowl.
Later that day, a Birding for Beginners class will be offered at 1 p.m.
This free two-hour Birding for Beginners class starts with a short session on birding basics at the Meadowlands Environment Center in Lyndhurst at 1 p.m., followed by a 90-minute walk in surrounding DeKorte Park, looking for swallows, killdeer, waterfowl and other birds.
For both events, check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release for either event. To RSVP, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or (201) 636-4022.
NJMC offers class about ancient Egypt
On Tuesday, March 29, the NJMC will offer a free class, “Mysteries of Ancient Egypt,” at 2 p.m. at 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.
What motivated the ancient Egyptians to construct the temples, tombs and monuments that remain today? What impact has climate change had on these world treasures? Take an armchair journey with photographer/journalist Lorraine Matys, who will share insights and images of this fascinating land.
NJMC presents Bach musical performance
On Sunday, April 3 at 1 p.m., the NJMC will host “Bach Again: The J.S. Bach Cello Suites” with a performance by cellist Stephen Framil. The Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello by Johann Sebastian Bach are some of the most performed and recognizable solo compositions ever written for cello. Critically acclaimed musician Stephen Framil has appeared as a concert soloist, recitalist, chamber musician and conductor the world over, including at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. Concert includes refreshments.
Adults and children over 10 only. Pre-registration is required at $5 per person and $3 for MEC members
Meadowlands Environment Center is located at 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst. For more information, call (201) 460-8300 or visit www.njmeadowlands.gov/ec.