Mason Peninsula Lodge holding blood drive
The Bayonne Masons Peninsula Lodge No. 99, 888 Ave. C, is holding a blood drive at its lodge hall on Saturday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All prospective donors should be 120 pounds or more, have their Social Security number, and possess a photo or signed identification card.
Donors should also have eaten a meal one hour prior to their donation, as well as be hydrated.
Donors will be registered to win two season passes to Great Adventure’s three theme parks, parking passes, and a $100 Visa gift card.
National HIV testing day on June 27, a day to find out your status
Many Americans are unaware of their positive HIV status, as much as one in five, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This means that those infected with HIV are not getting medical treatment and are potentially infecting others.
So each year on June 27, the New Jersey AIDS/HIV/STD Hotline joins with other prevention organizations across the country to observe National HIV Testing Day.
The current recommendation is that all people between the ages of 13 and 64 be routinely tested for HIV infection. Since testing is the only way to know if you have the HIV virus, testing should be part of an annual physical exam.
“You cannot rely on symptoms to know if you are HIV positive,” said a hotline spokesperson. “Many people who are HIV positive do not have any symptoms for years. You can now have a rapid test done in select sites around the state and know your HIV status in less than an hour.”
If you are looking for a free, state-funded testing site for initial testing or follow-up, or have questions about HIV/AIDS, STDs, or hepatitis, contact the hotline by calling (800) 624-2377, texting/emailing it at 8006242377@njpies.org, or chatting via njhivstdline.org. The hotline is available 24 hours a day/seven days a week. Calls are free and confidential.
Hudson County Sheriff: ‘Click it’ ticket campaign a success
Hudson County Sheriff Frank X. Schillari has announced that the spring 2014 “Click It or Ticket” seat belt safety campaign was successful.
“Wearing a seat belt in a motor vehicle, regardless of age or seating position, increases the chances of surviving a crash by almost 75 percent,” said Schillari. “Our officers were successful in stopping and enforcing seat belt laws throughout the county and I am proud of their hard work.”
Schillari said that during the campaign, held from May 19 to June 1, more than 190 seat belt violation tickets were issued, including 12 for having unrestrained children in the vehicle. Violations were also issued for cell phone usage, suspended licenses, uninsured driving, uninsured vehicles and speeding—for more than 260 summonses.
Hudson County Sheriff’s officers will continue to enforce seat belt safety in Hudson County even though the campaign is over, Schillari said.
Sacco bill that would expand DNA database approved by Law & Public Safety Committee
Legislation sponsored by Sens. Nicholas J. Sacco and Paul Sarlo that would expand the state’s DNA database was approved on June 19 by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
The bill, S-393, would add indictable disorderly person’s offenses to the list of criminal conduct that, upon conviction, requires biological sampling for the DNA database.
Under the DNA Database and Databank Act of 1994, only a person convicted of an indictable crime of the first, second, third, or fourth degree, or a person arrested for certain violent crimes, are required to submit to DNA sampling.
The bill alludes to a 2013 Supreme Court decision which ruled that the police may take DNA samples from people arrested in connection with serious crimes.
The federal government and 28 states currently authorize DNA collection after an arrest. All 50 states require the collection of DNA from people convicted of felonies.
The bill was approved by the committee with a vote of 5-0. It now heads to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee for further review.
Concert band playing patriotic music at Meadowlands Center for holiday
A free Independence Day celebration will take place two days early for seniors on Wednesday, July 2, at 7 p.m. at the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.
“The North Jersey Concert Band is back by popular demand for an evening of rousing patriotic numbers,” said spokesman Brian Aberback. “Wear your red, white and blue and bring a flag!
Registration is recommended. To register, call (201) 777-2431.