Secaucus Housing Authority gets high grade
The Secaucus Housing Authority (SHA) scored a 100 on its Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) report, the highest score it has received since 2001, according to a July letter issued by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The SHA runs operations for three senior housing buildings and manages 250 vouchers – a program that is managed by Jacob Naszimento, Deputy Executive Director.
SEMAP measures the performance of the Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher Program in 14 key indicators. The indicators include categories such as selection from waiting list, reasonable rent, and expanding housing opportunities. With the exclusion of one indicator – family self sufficiency – which is not applicable to SHA, 100 is the highest score the authority can receive.
MS Self Help Group meeting at local library
The Multiple Sclerosis self-help group will meet Sept. 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Secaucus public library for a “Town Hall” type meeting and a presentation from the NJ Metro Chapter/ National MS Society on advocacy, local and federal efforts, and how members can get involved.
The group meets the second Tuesday of each month. For more information, contact: Kevin Kilroy (201) 320-0100 or email: chefkev21@comcast.net.
Local company donates high tech infrared camera to Secaucus Fire Department
Equinix, a technology firm in Secaucus, on Aug. 16 donated an infrared imaging camera to the Volunteer Fire Department to assist during fires or smoke conditions. The cameras are designed to sense heat and help save lives during a fire or smoke situation.
“We are pleased to share a positive relationship with the high tech company. It is these kinds of relationships that keep a community strong and supports the safety of everyone,” said Mayor Michael Gonnelli. Gonnelli said the fire department would greatly benefit from the state of the art camera. A former fire chief, Gonnelli said the camera has the capability to identify issues ahead of time by picking up a heat source.
“We know the value of having efficient equipment to locate hot spots,” said Anthony Sclafani, director of facilities operations for Equinix.
Battalion Chief Bryan Schoch said the infrared device is a vital life-saving tool and a great asset to the inventory of equipment. “The camera has a thermostat gauge that would tell the temperature. It also has a turbo feature to help identify the hottest spot through color contrast.”
Equinox has three facilities located in Secaucus.
Plans underway to get Hudson County ready for 2014 Super Bowl
Preparations are underway to get northern New Jersey ready to host the 2014 Super Bowl – slated to be the biggest in history. New York and New Jersey are co-hosting the event together.
The Office of Hudson County Cultural and Heritage Affairs and Tourism Development hosted an inaugural meeting last week to form planning committees and set goals for the area in anticipation of the 2014 Super Bowl. The Meadowlands Liberty Convention and Visitors Bureau (MLCVB) expects New Jersey sites will be major tourist destinations during the 2014 Super Bowl and generate increased revenue for local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues and tourist attractions.
Secaucus, Hoboken, and Jersey City, which have been selected as “hospitality zones,” will launch events next summer to build anticipation for the Super Bowl.
Over 150,000 out-of-town guests are expected, and close to 500,000 people are expected to attend events. The North Jersey region is expected to capture 35 to 40 percent of $500 million anticipated in spending. The area has 10,000 to 12,000 hotel rooms while New York City has 90,000 hotel rooms. Despite the fact that some tourists may stay in New York City, which had an estimated 50 million visitors in 2011 that generated $48 billion in spending, Hudson County destinations will be much closer to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford and provide less expensive alternatives, some with Manhattan skyline views.
Puppet-making at Field Station: Dinosaurs
Field Station: Dinosaurs offers visitors a rare opportunity to meet the man in the T-Rex suit on Aug. 25 when Noel MacNeal, known for his work on the Greats Space Coaster, Bear in the Big House and as the beloved Snuffleupagus on Sesame Street, will conduct puppeteering workshops at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., answer questions from aspiring puppeteers, and sign copies of his new book, 10-Minute Puppets.
Copies of the book can be bought at Field Station: Dinosaurs’ gift shop. Additionally, Field Station staff will be teaching visitors how to make origami dinosaurs and pterodactyl puppets throughout the day.
On Aug. 26 dino-artists from Walter and Kissinger, whose work can be seen at the Museum of National Natural History, the Smithsonian Institute, and the Academy of Natural Sciences, will be conducting dino-drawing classes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Field Station: Dinosaurs is located at One Dinosaur Way. For more information, call: (855) 999.9010 or visit: www.fieldstationdinosaurs.com.
Kids raise pennies, get pasta
Maribel Gregory, general manager of the Secaucus Olive Garden, helped earn $2,920.45 for the 2011-2012 Pasta for Pennies program presented by Olive Garden and benefitting The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Pasta for Pennies is designed to teach children in elementary, middle and high school the value of community service in a fun way. Students collect funds, starting with their own spare change, to support research and patient service programs over a three-week period during the school year. The top fundraising class in each school earns a pasta party provided by Olive Garden.
Secaucus’s Olive Garden provided pasta parties for 3 local schools this year. The top two fundraising schools that were supported by the Secaucus Olive Garden this year were St. Aloysius Elementary School in Jersey City and Whitney M. Young Jr. Elementary School 15 in Jersey City, raising $1,714 and $728.38, respectively. The LLS New Jersey Chapter raised more than $320,000 this year through Pasta for Pennies.
‘Back to Football’ Nature Walk at NJMC’s DeKorte Park Kicks Off NFL Opening Week
A free, guided, 90-minute walk, sponsored by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) and the Bergen County Audubon Society, is being held on Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. The walk has a special National Football League theme – and prizes donated by the NFL. To celebrate the opening game of the 2012 season between the Dallas Cowboys and Super Bowl Champion Giants at nearby MetLife Stadium on Sept. 5, the NFL is offering a prize to the first person on the walk to see any bird species with the same name as a pro football team: Cardinal, Raven, Falcon, Eagle, Seahawk (osprey), Giant (great) egret and Giant (great) blue heron.
All seven team bird species can be seen in DeKorte Park, the home of the NJMC. The walk meets inside the one-square mile park’s Meadowlands Environment Center. To RSVP, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or (201) 230-4983. The Meadowlands Environment Center’s phone number is (201) 777-2431.
Secaucus Recreation fall dance workshops
The Secaucus Recreation Center and the Dawn Lau Dance Company offer Fall Dance Workshops starting Sept. 17. The eight-week dance workshops will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays. “Introduction to Dance” for ages 4 to 6 will be held Mondays 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.; for ages 7 to 9 on Wednesdays 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.; and for ages 10 to 13 Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. “Kinetic Kidz – Mommy and Me” for ages 2.5 to 4 will be held Wednesdays 11:45 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. “Ballet – Mommy and Me” for ages 2.5 to 4 will be held Wednesdays 12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Registration is Sept. 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Sept. 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Secaucus Recreation Center. The cost for each 8 week workshop is $50.00. For more information please contact: dawnlaudance@aol.com.