This year’s annual pool party theme is ‘safari’
Don’t miss the annual North Bergen pool party on Friday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “safari.” There will be water slides, blow ups, games and entertainment, along with a variety of food. Advance ticket prices are $15 per member, $20 for non-members. At the door, the price is $5 more. Rain date is Saturday, Aug. 23.
Oktoberfest-in-August set for Aug. 16 and 17
On Saturday, Aug.16 and Sunday, Aug. 17 the 140th Oktoberfest-in-August will be celebrated at historic Schuetzen Park, located on Kennedy Blvd. The fun-loving Austrian Boys orchestra will play and Bavarian dancers will thrill with their unique folk dancing. Celebrants will be treated to a host of food concessions, including eel and lox, a German bakery with assorted mouth-watering items, a mini-German beer garden with authentic German beer, and an array of German-American souvenirs, including flags, hats and jewelry.
The festival has been organized to raise money for the Fritz Reuter Altenheim Continuous Care Retirement Community and other charities. Volunteers include the Frauen Verein des Fritz-Reuter-Altenheims with their cake and coffee concession, the Plattduetsch Society of Newark with their delicious potato pancakes and other delicacies, Rheinischer Male Chorus, the Young German-American Club, and the German Education Society.
The 49th Little Miss Schuetzen Park Beauty Pageant for girls ages 7 thru 12 who are of Germanic or part Germanic heritage will be held on Sunday afternoon. There will be clowns and games for children and adults. Additional features include the children’s ice cream walk and the Musskrugstemmen (beer stein holding) competition.
Entrance to the park commences at noon each day and the admission is $10 per adult.
Free classes in English and more offered in Guttenberg
The Franciscan Community Development Center is holding free English classes beginning in the fall. Classes include English conversation and ESL I and II, as well as citizenship, computer and Internet. New courses include driver’s education and social media.
Registration takes place from Sept. 3 to 18, with classes on weekday evenings from Sept. 22 to Dec. 11. Register at the Franciscan Community Development Center, 7007 Polk St., Guttenberg. Please have proof of residency and ID when registering. For information call (201) 941-2410.
Fire in the Meadowlands interrupts NYC train service
A brush fire in the Meadowlands impacted train service in and out of New York for about an hour on Monday night, Aug. 11.
The fire occurred in the reeds on the border of Secaucus, North Bergen, and Jersey City, west of the intersection of Route 3 and Tonnelle Ave. It started about 6 p.m. NJ Transit suspended service on Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, and Midtown Direct trains in both directions in and out of New York, according to CBS News.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
Sixth annual backpack program upcoming
Backpacks will be available to students in need at the Back-to-School Backpack Program from the Franciscan Community Development Center. Backpacks will be given out while supplies last on Sept. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Robert Fulton School Annex, 7111 Polk St. Bring your student ID or old report card.
NoHu Int’l Short Film Festival seeking entries for 2014
Submissions are being accepted in all categories for the seventh annual NoHu International Short Film Festival to be held from Oct. 14 to 18 in Union City. The five day festival will include four evenings of screenings of the finalists of the short film competing category and a red carpet awards ceremony on the fifth day. Films should be no longer than fifteen minutes in length. No pornography please.
Those interested may submit their film in DVD format along with a cover letter, synopsis, film credits, awards if any, and contact information to Commissioner Lucio P. Fernandez, Department of Public Affairs, 3715 Palisade Ave., Union City, NJ 07087, Attn: Film Entry. Please include in the cover letter that the entry is being submitted by the property owner or licensee, and giving the City of Union City the right to publicly screen the film as part of the NoHu International Film Festival. DVDs will not be returned.
Entry deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 1. No exceptions. No application form is required and there is no fee. Foreign language films are accepted. This is a juried festival. Please include if this is a world premiere, USA premiere, New Jersey premiere, or Union City premiere. Finalists will be notified via e-mail. Please write contact name, email, and genre on the DVD cover.
‘Reckless borrowing’ has ravaged NJ transportation, says Prieto
New Jersey’s transportation network is “running on fumes” as a result of flawed borrowing practices, claimed State Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto in a op-ed piece for The Record of Bergen County on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
“New Jersey needs a modern and safe transportation network for its economic survival, but years of foolish borrowing leave our state teetering on the brink of a transportation disaster,” Prieto wrote.
He announced that the Assembly would be hosting hearings over the coming months to address the bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund and how to meet transportation needs.
“The American Society of Civil Engineers notes two-thirds of New Jersey’s roads are in poor or mediocre quality, with 36 percent of the bridges deficient or obsolete,” Prieto stated in the piece.
Among the issues to be addressed are the safety of New Jersey’s bridges, how to improve the roadways, and how mass transit can impact the situation.
Prieto stated a goal of raising about $1.6 billion. A gas tax increase is one option for generating some of the funds, with Prieto insisting that additional bonding should not be considered.
2014 back-to-school drive is underway
The North Bergen Emergency Relief Program is hosting a back-to-school drive for families in need throughout the township. They are collecting items from now until Aug. 29, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The items will be distributed on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at the North Bergen Recreation Center located at 6300 Meadowview Ave. For a list of drop off locations and the items that are needed, visit the town website at www.northbergen.org.
Artists, crafters, and vendors wanted for Union City festival
The City of Union City, Mayor Brian Stack, and the Board of Commissioners are seeking artists, crafters, and vendors to participate in the annual Union City Arts & Crafts and Music Festival to be held at Ellsworth Park, New York Ave. and 23rd St. on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The daylong festival will include various performances and activities for children. Artists and crafters interested in participating may reserve a space or obtain information from the Union City Department of Public Affairs, 3715 Palisade Ave., 3rd Floor or by calling (201) 348-5746. The spaces are 10 x 10 feet and participation is free.