Kids ride the ferry free for the holidays
There’s nothing like the holidays in New York City and NY Waterway makes it easy and fun and a little more affordable by letting “Kids Ride Free” for the holidays. Experience all New York has to offer – the holiday displays, the kid-friendly shows and attractions, and all that shopping.
Children 12 and under can ride free at the following terminals: Port Imperial, Lincoln Harbor, Hoboken/14th St., Edgewater, and Belford. There is a two-child limit with each paying adult fare. No physical ticket is required for a child.
This promotion is valid Monday, Nov. 17 to Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015
Holiday drive going on now for families in need
The North Bergen Emergency Relief Program is hosting a holiday drive for families in need throughout the township. Items will be collected through Dec. 19 for distribution on Monday, Dec. 22 at the North Bergen Recreation Center at 6300 Meadowview Ave.
Advance sign up is required. Families in need of a meal or toy for a child this holiday season should email Emergency Relief Coordinator Aimee Focaraccio at afocaraccio@northbergen.org or call (201) 392-2084 to sign up. Items are only guaranteed to pre-registered residents.
Items needed include brand new unwrapped toys for children of all ages, pasta, rice/beans, mashed potatoes, canned vegetables, dessert mixes/no-bake desserts (e.g., Jell-o, pudding, no-bake cheesecake, non-perishable), or any other appropriate holiday staple item. Drop off locations are as follows:
• North Bergen Health Dept., 1116 – 43rd St., 2nd floor
• North Bergen Police Dept./Town Hall (Chambers), 4233 Kennedy Blvd.
• North Bergen Court/Parking Authority, 4225 Bergen Tpk.
• North Bergen Public Library, 8411 Bergenline Ave. or 2123 Kennedy Blvd.
• All North Bergen schools
At least one dead in West New York car crash
According to a press release, a man was killed and a woman severely injured in a car crash in West New York last weekend.
“At approximately 2:20 a.m. on Saturday [Dec. 6], the West New York Police, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, the North Hudson Regional Fire Dept, WNY EMS and Paramedics from JCMC responded to a motor vehicle crash on Hillside Road (Anthony M. Defino Way) between River Road and Blvd East. WNY Police arrived first and found one of the drivers pinned in a car and very critically injured,” according to a press release.
Police said a 33-year-old Clifton woman was driving her 2008 Silver Toyota Highlander west on Hillside from River Road, when at a point midway between Blvd. East and River Road, a 2002 Silver Acura, driven by Fernando Tlatelpa, age 27, of Jersey City, who was heading eastbound, lost control in a curve, slid sideways, crossed over double yellow lines and into the path of the woman’s vehicle, where they collided. The impact sent the Acura through a fence and into the mountainside. Tlatelpa had to be extricated from the vehicle and he was transported by EMS to the Jersey City Medical center where he was pronounced dead, said Sheriff Frank Schillari.
American Dream mall reportedly lining up big tenants
The once-troubled American Dream mega-mall in the Meadowlands is attracting a strong lineup of retail tenants, according to reports. Nj.com stated it obtained a brochure from Alberta-based developer Triple Five listing retailers planning to open stores in American Dream, including Victoria’s Secret, The Gap, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Lord & Taylor. The brochure also states that FAO Schwarz will be moving from its Manhattan headquarters to the Meadowlands.
Among the other attractions planned for the American Dream facility are an indoor water park, an amusement park, an aquarium, Imax theaters, and a permanent Cirque du Soleil theater.
American Dream had a strong presence at the International Council of Shopping Centers’ annual retail convention in the Jacob Javits Convention Center last weekend. In addition to being a corporate sponsor of the convention, Triple Five took out ads at all entrances to the Javits Center and in the convention program, stating “Shop American Dream. Opening Holiday 2016.”
Nj.com reported that Triple Five listed 50 retailers by name as committed to American Dream, with letters of intent to lease from 155 retailers and 93 completed leases from unspecified retailers. However, some at the convention expressed doubts that the project will actually come to fruition as planned, citing the failure of two other developers to successfully launch a mall at the same location. Retailers who had heard sales pitches for a Meadowlands mall from those previous developers might feel a sense of déjà vu hearing a similar approach from Triple Five. Funding for the project, slated to cost $2 billion, remains unresolved as well, with questions remaining about the issuance of bonds to pay for part of the construction costs.
NB Players’ 2014 holiday celebration upcoming
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 Avenue 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.
Enjoy holiday celebrations at the libraries
Santa Claus will be visiting both branches of the North Bergen Library this holiday season. Kids can enjoy story time, singalongs, goodie bags, and get their photos taken with Santa on Monday, Dec. 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Main Branch, 8411 Bergenline Ave., or on Wednesday, Dec. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kennedy Branch, 2123 Kennedy Blvd. For more information call (201) 869-4715 or visit www.nbpl.org.
Franklin Chorus to perform at NJ Devils game
The Franklin School Chorus and several of the jazz band members will perform at the NJ Devils game on Dec. 19 at the Prudential Center. Based on their previous performances at Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, Franklin Chorus was contacted by the Devils organization and invited to sing at intermission. The group will perform “The Hallelujah Chorus” by Handel from “The Messiah,” “Venite Adoremus Dominum” by Jerry Estes, and “Christmas Canon” by TransSiberian Orchestra (an adaptation of Pachabell’s “Canon in D Major”). The chorus and jazz band will perform together the famous carol “The First Noel” and the band will perform the carol “Angels We Have Heard on High.” The game begins at 7 p.m.
NB Police holding annual ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ holiday campaign
The North Bergen Police Department will crack down on drunk drivers as part of the annual holiday season “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” statewide campaign. From Dec. 5 through Jan. 2, local and state law enforcement officials will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety check points looking for motorists who might be driving while intoxicated.
The national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” effort endeavors to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through a combination of high-visibility enforcement and public education. “This is a critical law enforcement program that can save lives during a time of the year when impaired driving traditionally increases by nearly 10 percent,” said Police Chief Robert Dowd. “This initiative brings attention to the serious consequences of drunk driving and the grave danger those who choose to drink and drive pose to all of who share the road with them.”
Last year, 22 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related. Nationally, more than 10,000 people die each year in drunk driving crashes. The societal cost associated with drunk driving crashes is estimated to be $37 billion annually.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2014 Year End Holiday Crackdown offer the following advice for holiday season:
• Take mass transit, a taxicab, or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• Spend the night where the activity or the party is held.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life, and inaction could cost a life.
• Always buckle-up, every ride. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.
• If you are intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive you or escort you to your doorstep.
• Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.