North Bergen achieves Sustainable Jersey certification
North Bergen has passed all necessary requirements to receive Sustainable Jersey certification from the State of New Jersey. The township is one of 117 municipalities in the state to be awarded the bronze certification level in the program, which seeks to promote sustainable practices by local governments. Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the township government were honored at the 99th annual New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City this week for the achievement.
“I am very proud of the work we have done to achieve this certification and I commend all the various township employees who helped make it happen,” said Sacco. “Sustainability is an important goal that we all must take steps to live up to and it is very gratifying to see the progress we have made here in North Bergen recognized like this.”
To become Sustainable Jersey certified, North Bergen submitted documentation to show it had completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 150 action points to be certified at the bronze level. In addition to reaching 150 points, communities have to create a “Green Team” to manage the process and select at least two out of 11 priority action options. North Bergen completed three priority actions by successfully meeting standards in energy tracking and management, fleet inventory, and prescription drug safety and disposal.
North Bergen police to run DWI checkpoint
North Bergen Police Chief Robert Dowd announced that the department will operate a DWI checkpoint within the township on Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Eve. The checkpoint will be placed within the city limits of North Bergen. Officers will look for impaired drivers in an effort to reduce the chance of motor vehicle accidents.
Hudson non-profits receive $1,000 Community Connections grants
Wells Fargo brought together non-profits and community groups from across its North Jersey region recently to distribute $140,000 in Community Connection grants. The Wells Fargo Community Connections program was established to give local store managers an opportunity to make a $1,000 charitable contribution on behalf of Wells Fargo to a non-profit of their choice. The $1,000 grants went to non-profits who provide services in the areas of community development, education, human services, arts and culture, environmental and civic projects.
Hudson County groups that received the awards include: in North Bergen, the Franciscan CDC of Fairview; in West New York, the Rebeka Verea Foundation; in Bayonne, the Community Welfare International; in Hoboken, the Communities of Faith for Housing, Hoboken 14th St., and The Friends of Elysian Charter School; in Jersey City, the Kennedy Dancers, the Lawrence Interfaith Housing Network, and the Newport Salvation Army; in Kearny, the YCS Foundation; in Union City, the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Union City Music Project; and in Weehawken, the Cafe Y Orquidea Cafe & Orquidea.
The grants were distributed at a special breakfast at the East Hanover Marriott in Whippany. This was the first and largest Wells Fargo community giving event held in the northeast region.
Hudson County Chamber to honor local legends at seventh annual ball
The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce presents its seventh annual Legends Ball at Jersey City’s Casino in the Park from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11. More than 300 guests will join the chamber to honor distinguished leaders in Hudson County for their long-term commitment and outstanding contributions to the business, cultural, and educational life of the region. This year’s honorees are Gary Greenberg, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County; Gerard McGraw, president, Fidelity Institutional, Fidelity Investments; and Karen Davis-Farage and Eyal Farage, owners, Pole Position Raceway Jersey City/New York. For the first time this year, the chamber will also honor a Corporate Legend: Provident Bank.
The 2014 gala is the culminating event in the organization’s year-long Shop Local campaign. The evening will begin with a red-carpet welcome for honorees and their guests, and includes a cocktail hour, dinner and awards presentation, and a silent auction titled “Play, Stay, Explore Hudson County.”
Founded in 1888, the organization has steadily grown over the last few years. The chamber currently represents nearly 500 members, has a formal partnership with the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce, has facilitated forums with local, state, and federal officials, and provides a platform for business networking and partnerships. Major sponsors of the Legends Ball include Provident Bank, Fidelity Investments, CarePoint Health, and Congressman Frank Guarini.
For tickets or more information about the event, call (201) 386-0699, x270, or visit www.hudsonchamber.org.
Freeholders move ahead with new county school in Secaucus
On Nov. 12, members of the Hudson County Board of Freeholders reviewed early plans for a campus of the county’s public technical high school to be constructed on county property in Secaucus.
Frank Gargiulo, superintendent of Hudson County Schools of Technology, said the project is estimated to cost $160 million, with almost 60 percent funded by the state. The school would house about 2,000 students, half during the day, half attending evening classes, nearly all of whom would be transported to the site by school bus. The freeholders, who will have to approve bonding for the project, are expected to move ahead with financing shortly. Construction would start in September 2016 and be completed at some point in 2019.
Donate old cell phones, provide free calls home to troops overseas
Mile Square Early Learning Center in Hoboken and nonprofit Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. ask Hudson County residents to help troops call home by donating gently-used cellular phones. Although the military landscape is ever changing, as many as 200,000 troops are serving in the United States military overseas around the world. By donating to Cell Phones for Soldiers, residents can provide troops with that precious connection to loved ones back home.
Phones can be donated at Mile Square Early Learning Center locations in Hoboken, including the St. Francis site at 310 Jefferson St., the Rue site at 301 Garden St., and the Demarest site at 158 4th St.
Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in 2004 by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist at the ages of 12 and 13. The charity has since provided more than 210 million minutes of free talk time to servicemen and women stationed around the world through its calling card program, Minutes that Matter. Funds raised from the recycling of cellular phones are used to purchase prepaid international calling cards. On average, Cell Phones for Soldiers distributes 3,200 calling cards each week to bases around the world, care package programs, deployment ceremonies and VA hospitals.
Donated phones are sent to Mindful eCycling for recycling. For every donated phone valued at $5, Cell Phones for Soldiers is able to provide two and a half hours of free talk time to deployed troops. Approximately half of the phones Mindful eCycling processes are reconditioned and reused. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and responsibly recycled to reclaim materials, including gold, silver, and platinum from circuit boards; copper wiring from phone chargers, nickel, iron, cadmium, and lead from battery packs, and plastic from phone cases and accessories.
For more information, contact cdiaz@mselc1979.org or visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.
Local job opportunity: FedEx Ground now hiring
FedEx will accept applicants in person on Tuesday, Nov. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the North Hudson Community Action Corporation, 400 38th St., Suite 214 in Union City.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and no longer in high school. They must be able to load, unload, and sort packages as well as perform other related duties. No experience is required.
2014 Holiday Celebration
Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the North Bergen Players present the 2014 Holiday Celebration “Come Meet Santa and Rudolph” at the North Bergen Players Mini Theater, 8411 Bergenline Ave., on Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 14 at 5 p.m. The show is produced and directed by Maurena Luzzi, with guest accompanist Fred Fochesato. Admission is $15. Holiday refreshments are included.
Santa Claus is coming to town!
The 15th Annual Santa Parade is coming to Bergenline Ave. on Sunday, Dec. 14. The parade starts at noon at 85th St. and proceeds to 32nd St.
The parade is presented by the firefighters and fire officers of North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue, in conjunction with the towns of North Bergen, West New York, Union City, Guttenberg, and Weehawken.
Palisades Medical Center provides free community health screening
Palisades Medical Center will hold a free health screening on Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 9034 Barr Pl., North Bergen. Free screenings and information will be available on blood pressure, heart rate, percentage of oxygen in the blood, peak flow/respiratory, Body Mass Index – BMI and mammography certificates. For more information, call Joanne Riggs at (201) 854-5793.