NORTH BERGEN BRIEFS

North Bergen Free Public Library Book Club meeting

The book “It’s Always Something” by Gilda Radner will be discussed on Wednesday, April 10 from 2 to 3 p.m. The Book Club meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month.

North Bergen Planning Board will vote for controversial development

The North Bergen Planning Board will hold a special meeting on Thursday, April 11 to consider Riverview, a development located at 8200-8516 River Road. The project will contain more than 250 residential units in three nine-story buildings. Critics have opposed the development because they claim it would block views of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline while causing traffic issues.
According to NJ.com, the March 5 meeting resulted in the Planning Board deciding to conduct an additional study. The special meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 11 at 7 p.m. at North Bergen Town Hall at 4233 Kennedy Blvd.

Pool registration begins

North Bergen Municipal Pool registration begins on April 15. It can either be completed at the North Bergen Recreation center or at the pool. The Recreation Center is located at 6300 Meadowview Ave. Registration at this location will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, Tuesday evenings on April 16 and 23 from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays on April 20 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration at the pool at 2111 91st St. will be held Tuesday evenings May 7, 14 and 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays on May 4, 11 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more updated information visit www.northbergen.org.

Special needs child left on school bus alone for several hours

An 8-year-old disabled child with Russell-Silver Syndrome was allegedly left on a bus by two employees of the private company Hudson County Transport on March 11, according to numerous reports.
Arrested were bus aide Aida Lazala of North Bergen and driver Arturo Martinez of Jersey City. They were charged with endangering the welfare of a child and endangering the welfare of a disabled person.
The bus company is under contract with the North Bergen Board of Education.
The child was reportedly sleeping on the bus and suffered no injuries.
“We are deeply grateful that this child was not harmed and we are shocked by the [alleged] inexcusable neglect and incompetence of the bus company’s employees,” said Superintendent of Schools Robert Dandorph. “It is shocking that adults we trust to protect our children could show such callous disregard for their welfare. We demand a thorough investigation of the company’s procedure to ensure that nothing like this could ever happen to another child.”
According to Town Spokesperson Phil Swibinski, school administrators followed regular procedure by contacting the child’s parents to notify them that their son was absent.
According to NJ.com, the bus company’s president said that both employees were fired and that there were no prior incidents with them.
Swibinski said employees are supposed to use a sign-in sheet in the back of the bus to confirm that it is checked after every ride.
When police interviewed the child he indicated to them that he knew not to get off the bus, said Sgt. Robert Dowd.
“He was a brave little boy and he did the smart thing. He stayed on the bus,” said Dowd.

State Senate, Assembly candidates for 32nd and 33rd districts finalized

A smattering of local residents will run for state Senate and Assembly in the June primaries and in the general elections in November. North Bergen and Guttenberg are in the 32nd District. Every district has one state senator and two Assembly representatives.
In the 32nd District, State Sen. Nicholas Sacco (also mayor of North Bergen) will face off in a Democratic primary against Guttenberg resident Francisco Torres. The winner will face Kearny resident Paul Kastelli, a Republican.
For the two Assembly seats in that district, incumbents Angelica Jimenez (Democrat from West New York) and Vincent Prieto (Democrat from Secaucus) will face opposition from West New York Democrat Mayra Dominguez and Republicans Maria Malavasi-Quartello and Lee Marie Gomez, among others.

Cuban Lions and Palisades Medical holding free health fair in WNY Sunday

The West New York Cuban Lions Club has teamed up with Palisades Medical Center to offer a free health clinic and information fair on Sunday, April 7 at the Lions’ new community room located at 514 52nd Street in West New York (between Bergenline Ave. and Kennedy Blvd.) It will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Physicians will be available to answer questions and provide health tests and screenings on the following: blood pressure, cholesterol, dental, diabetes, sleep disorder information, eye/vision information, and glaucoma.

Hudson County CASA recruiting to help foster kids

Hudson County CASA, a non-profit organization, is currently recruiting volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to insure 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.
An information session for those interested will be held on Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m. in Room #400 of the Hudson County Administration Building, located 595 Newark Avenue, 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.

Group plans community fair, giveaways

The Dvine Konektion Community Development Corporation is offering a free Community Fair on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5516 Jefferson St. in West New York.
Residents of West New York, North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken and Guttenberg are welcome to attend. During the fair free bags of groceries and baby supplies such as diapers and wipes will be distributed. There will also be free blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol screenings, information about health insurance, vouchers for free mammograms and prostate exams, and more. For additional information, please call (201) 617-4484 or visit www.dvinek.org.

© 2000, Newspaper Media Group