Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center schedule events
The Secaucus Library will offer story time for children ages 4 and 5 on Monday, March 11 and 25, at 3:45 p.m. Guests will have a 30 minute story session featuring a themed story and coloring sheet. Registration for the event is strongly recommended.
There will be a stress and adrenal dysfunction lecture with Dr. Leat Kuzniar on Thursday, March 14 at 7 p.m. The discussion will also include the elements that constitute the life-preserving stress response, health effects, energy levels, and cognitive function.
Brian Sears of Secaucus wins 13 races in two-night span at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers Raceway plungers braved a bitter cold snap to follow a pair of harness drivers with very hot performances at the historic half-mile oval. First, Brian Sears of Secaucus brought home a “lucky” 13 to the winners circle over a two-night period during the weekend of Feb. 23-24. Sears is atop the drivers’ standings with 63 victories, scoring at a blazing 27 percent clip. Then, it was Jason Bartlett’s turn on Tuesday, bringing home five winners, including the 20-1 long shot Gracie’s Boy, paying $42.20 for a $2 wager.
New Jersey Meadowlands Commission schedules ‘Wolf Visions’
“Wolf Visions,” which is open to all ages on Sunday, March 10 from 1 to 2:30 p.m., will feature a live wolf. Vincent Reo of the Wolf Visions education program will dispel myths and educate the public about the importance of wolves along with their role in sustaining a balanced ecosystem.
After Reo’s slideshow, guests will meet a kind wolf. Admission is $5 per person and $4 for MEC members. The event will be located at Meadowlands Environment Center, Two DeKorte Park Plaza in Lyndhurst.
For more information call (201) 460-8300 or visit www.njmeadowlands.gov/ec.
Meadowlands property owners still eligible for flood insurance discounts
The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) announced on Friday, March 1 that Meadowlands District property owners, businesses and tenants located in Special Flood Hazard Areas will continue to be eligible for 15 percent discounts on National Flood Insurance Program policies issued through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This marks the eighth consecutive year that the NJMC’s participation in FEMA’s voluntary Community Rating System (CRS) program has resulted in reduced flood insurance rates on policies issued or renewed by the federal government within the Meadowlands District.
“The Meadowlands Commission is pleased that FEMA, based on the Commission’s land use activities, will continue to provide valuable insurance discounts to District property owners,” said Marcia Karrow, Executive Director of the NJMC.
The Commission received the 15 percent discount through its participation in the CRS program on behalf of all 14 Meadowlands District municipalities. In order to qualify for the discount, the NJMC must implement certain activities that meet or exceed the point system established as part of the CRS. The Commission was recognized by FEMA for its actions in areas including flood data maintenance, open space preservation, stormwater management standards and drainage system maintenance.
Artists wanted
If you live in Secaucus and are a painter, photographer, mixed media artist, sculptor or have any other artistic abilities, Mayor Michael Gonnelli and the Town Council would like to highlight your talent. All work will be viewed, selected by a jury, and received at The Town Hall by Thursday, April 11. The artist’s reception will be held on Wednesday, April 17 at 7 p.m.
For more information contact Lee Penna at (201) 330-2083 or email her at lee.penna@bccls.org.
Local blood bank seeking volunteers to work drives
New Jersey Blood Services, a division of New York Blood Center, which supplies blood products and services to 60 hospitals throughout the state, is in need of volunteers at blood drives. The blood service volunteer is an integral member of the collection team whose task it is assist donors with registration, escorting and canteen duties, and to watch for post donation reactions. 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, R. Jan Zepka at (732) 616-8741 or rzepka@nybloodcenter.org.
Anti-drug group seeking commercial ideas from middle schoolers
Calling all future movie writers and producers! The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is calling on New Jersey middle school students to write, star in and produce a television commercial with a substance abuse prevention message for their peers by entering the 14th Annual Middle School Public Service Announcement Challenge (MSPSA).
Students in the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade are invited to create a 30-second television Public Service Announcement (PSA) script designed to get a substance abuse prevention message out to their peers.
“The students who submit the winning script not only write the 30-second PSA, but produce, edit, and star in the spot that is often filmed at their school,” said media director Angela Conover. Each school can enter multiple teams, but each team may only submit one PSA.
All submissions must be received by Friday, April 19.
For additional information contact (973) 467-2100, ext. 11, or visit: DrugFreeNJ.org.
Secaucus educator Thomas Tufaro earns doctorate in educational leadership
Thomas Tufaro, department chair of secondary English and social studies at Secaucus Middle and High School, has successfully defended his dissertation at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown to earn his doctorate in educational leadership. Tufaro’s dissertation is entitled, “Finding Common Ground: Exploring the Connections between the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards and Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning at the Secondary Level.” He is a resident of the Rainbow Lakes section of Parsippany.
Tufaro has a bachelor’s degree in English from William Paterson College in 1997, a master of arts in educational administration from St. Peter’s College in 2003 and has completed additional graduate courses at Fordham University, the Indiana University and the Academy of Clinical and Applied Psychoanalysis.