Hartz Mountain Industries celebrates grand reopening of eighth hotel
Hartz Mountain Industries helped Extended Stay America celebrate its grand reopening at One Plaza Drive and Peterson Plank Road in Secaucus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house event recently. All 138 guest rooms and common areas have been refreshed with upgraded amenities including, free in-room Wi-Fi access, grab-and-go breakfast, flat-screen televisions with premium channels and fresh, filtered water systems in every in-room kitchen. The grounds also include a private landscaped courtyard for guests to enjoy. Extended Stay America is one of eight hotels that Hartz Mountain Industries offers in Harmon Meadow, a mixed-use development that includes shopping, dining and entertainment options with easy access to work and play in New York City via bus or New Jersey Transit train.
Indy and New Orleans Super Bowl hosts to be featured at Meadowlands event
The Meadowlands Liberty Convention and Visitors Bureau (MLCVB) on Oct. 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. will host “mdest12: The Destination Conversation,” the region’s premier destination industry conference at the Sheraton Meadowlands in East Rutherford. Highlighted by keynote speakers from previous Super Bowls as well as a panel featuring leading travel and tourism executives from the region and the nation, this year’s event is intended to help local businesses gain insight on how to prepare the region for upcoming major events including Super Bowl XLVIII, Wrestlemania 29 and Grand Prix of America. Speakers who are scheduled to attend include Steven Perry, CEO of New Orleans CVB, Leonard Hoops, CEO of Visit Indy, Wayne Hasenbalg, president and CEO of New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, Dennis Robinson, chief operating officer of Grand Prix of America at Port Imperial, Jeff Gural, chairman of American Racing and Entertainment, LLC, and Michael Gherisch, CEO of Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI).
To register, go to: www.mlcvb.com/mdest12.
Regional EMTs trained on new decontamination unit
To ensure regional ambulance crews are up-to-date on the latest emergency plans and equipment, Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center (MHMC) created a mock-disaster training drill for MHMC, Secaucus, North Bergen, and Hoboken EMTs as well as those from the private ambulance companies Amb-U-Car and Amcare, according to a press statement.
The EMTs earlier this month trained with the new MHMC decontamination unit during a mock response drill to an explosion with “patients” who may have been exposed to toxins. Staff used the decontamination trailer to wash, clean and triage patients before transferring them to the emergency room for additional treatment. The hospital’s decontamination trailer was funded by a grant from the State of New Jersey to assist hospitals with treating patients who arrive directly from the scene of a disaster without having received treatment at the disaster site.
“In a lot of emergencies, patients don’t always wait at the scene. Sometimes they’ll go directly to a hospital and, in the case of an explosion, they may have been exposed to asbestos or another chemical,” said Frank Travisano, MHMC EMS director. “We train on how to handle that specific situation and how to clean and treat patients with the MHMC decontamination unit before they’re brought inside the hospital.”
In addition to practicing treating patients, EMTs checked all equipment and generators, and reviewed expiration dates to ensure all equipment is in good, working order. During the drill, MHMC also practiced its external disaster plan, which activated the Hospital Command Center to direct the emergency room and the service trailers. Emergency medical services are required to run practice drills at least twice a year.
Allegro Singers to perform opera at the library
The Allegro Singers, led by Inna Leytush at the piano, will perform selections from grand operas at the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center. The performance takes place at 2 p.m. on Oct. 21. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served.
The Allegro Singers are an organization of classically trained opera singers from New York and New Jersey who are led by Leytush, the group’s music director.
The performance will include an afternoon of favorite arias and duets from grand operas by famous composers, including Verdi, Puccini, Tchaikovsky and others, as well as popular song selections. Children under the age of 10 that wish to attend must be accompanied by an adult throughout the performance. Also, those who arrive late to the concert will be admitted at the discretion of library staff, so as not to disrupt the performance already in progress. Registration is suggested due to limited seating. To register, call (201) 330-2083.
Business symposium at La Reggia
Bergen and Hudson County Rotary Clubs will host a Meadowlands Business Symposium at La Reggia in Secaucus on Oct. 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Guest speakers Bette Spinelli, executive director for the Hudson County Economic Development Corporation, will highlight initiatives to assist small businesses; Jim Kirkos, president and CEO of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber, will outline business opportunities for upcoming major events and Super Bowl 2014; Jeffrey Alper of Strategic Employee Benefit Services will address how future changes in health insurance will affect your business; Rotary District Governor Bonnie Sirower will highlight the community service nature of Rotary and why Bergen and Hudson County business leaders are active members. Buffet Luncheon costs $25. To register, contact Secaucus Rotary member Diane Rich at (201) 867-2287.
Library hosts teen event ‘Zombify Yourself’
The living dead will awaken on Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center. Teens, ages 13 and up, are invited to attend an evening of fun Halloween-inspired events featuring an interactive make up workshop and a movie screening of “The Sixth Sense.” The event was inspired by the popular television show and comic “The Walking Dead,” which is geared towards adults and teens. For the first hour, teens will learn how to apply Zombie makeup on themselves and practice their zombie walk and sounds. Following the workshop, teens will watch the movie. Teens who are interested in attending the event must register. Register online at: Secaucus.bccls.org through the library’s calendar of event page. Or e-mail: SPLYouths@gmail.com. Teens must also have their legal guardian sign a makeup and media waiver, which is located on the event page, when they register or they will not be allowed to participate.
Location changed for Halloween costume party fundraiser
The venue for the Oct. 27 Halloween Costume Party fundraiser for the Secaucus Animal Shelter has changed from the LaQuinta Hotel to the Harmon Cove Clubhouse. The event is from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and includes dinner, dancing, psychics, raffles, entertainment, and a cash bar. Tickets are $45. For more information, call Janet (201) 893-5448.
Local ‘Outstanding Participant’ in scholarship program
Secaucus High School senior Abdii Kassa is among 3,100 “Outstanding Participants” in the National Achievement Scholarship Program being referred to U.S. colleges and universities. These students scored in the top 3 percent of more than 160,000 Black Americans who requested consideration in the 2013 National Achievement Program when they took the 2011 preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
Field Station: Dinosaurs offers pumpkin carving lessons
Robert Carr, artist, actor and pumpkin carving expert, whose carving work has been displayed at 12 Miles West Theatre Company and Two River Theater Company, will show visitors how to carve their favorite dinosaur in pumpkins on Oct. 21 and the following Sat. and Sun., Oct. 27 and 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors can BYO pumpkins or purchase one at the park, and lessons are free with admission to the park which will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Discounted tickets can be purchased in advance at: www.fieldstationdinosaurs.com or (855) 999.9010.
November is ‘Children’s and Young Adult Art Month’ at local library
November is Children’s Art Month at the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center. Secaucus youngsters from Pre-K to 12th grade are invited to display their art in the Panasonic Meeting Room. The art will be on display from Nov. 1 to 29. A reception for all participating artists and their families will take place on Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m.
All types of art are welcome, including paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, crafts, etc. Prizes donated by the Friends of the Secaucus Public Library will be awarded in grade categories of Pre-K and kindergarten; first to third grade; fourth to sixth grade; seventh to ninth grade and 10th to 12th grade. All pictures and photographs must be framed or mounted before being brought to the library. The name, grade and phone number of the child submitting the entry must be written on the back of the submission – not on the front – to keep the judging impartial.
Submissions can be brought to the library beginning Nov. 1. Please note that the library is closed on Nov. 8 and 12 for Election Day and Veterans’ Day. For more information, contact (201) 330-2083.