North Bergen honors officers for National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
Mayor Nicholas Sacco and Police Chief Robert Dowd celebrated the hard work and dedication of the North Bergen Police Department with a ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m., the day before national Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. The event highlighted acts of bravery, heroism, and diligence performed by NBPD officers last year, as well as the department’s commitment to diversity and community engagement, which are both essential to its mission of keeping North Bergen safe.
“In 2014, North Bergen Police Officers responded to over 100,000 calls for police service,” said Chief Dowd, who served as master of ceremonies. Four awards were presented – two for specific incidents where NBPD officers excelled, one honoring NBPD’s Narcotics Unit, which has seized over a million dollars’ worth of illegal narcotics and thousands of dollars in cash from drug dealers since its inception in 2012, and one for 2014 Officer of the Year Det. Roberto Maldonado.
A 19-year veteran of the NBPD, Maldonado is the senior detective in the Major Case Unit and is responsible for numerous felony arrests including aggravated assault, armed robbery, burglary, theft, arson and death by auto.
The other officers included Santos Benitez, Hector Rosa, and Brian Himsel, who responded to a 911 call and performed CPR to revive a 2-year-old child who fell in a swimming pool.
Also rewarded were Sgt. David Dowd, Det. Roberto Maldonado, Det. Victor Queiro, Inv. Hector Botello, and Inv. Carmen Recinos, all members of the department’s Major Case Unit, for their role in aggressively investigating and later locating the perpetrator of the recent alleged hit-and-run accident on Kennedy Boulevard that resulted in the death of Michael Viruet and serious injuries to his brother Adrian.
Major sewer improvement project to begin on Bergenline Avenue
Construction work is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks on a major sewer infrastructure improvement project on Bergenline Avenue between 79th and 82nd Streets that will result in the replacement of dozens of pipes, some of which have been in service for more than 50 years. The aging equipment will be lined and/or replaced in phase one of the $2 million project, which is expected to last until February before resuming in the spring and continuing off and on for the next two to three years.
“While we never like to cause disruption and inconvenience to residents and businesses, this project is absolutely necessary to prevent dangerous events like sinkholes and cave-ins that are often associated with aging sewer infrastructure,” said Township Administrator Chris Pianese. “This project will considerably improve our infrastructure and protect residents and businesses alike.”
During the mobilization period that is scheduled to begin on Jan. 5 and the construction period that is slated to last from Jan. 12 until mid-February depending on weather conditions, traffic flow on Bergenline Avenue will be restricted to one lane each way and there will be no parking on the street. In addition, Bergenline Avenue will not be accessible via 79th Street when traveling eastbound. The township is working with businesses and residents in the area to inform the public about the project and minimize disruption. Anyone with questions or concerns is encouraged to call the Department of Public Works at (201) 392-2128.
Cervical cancer lecture on Jan. 14
Cervical cancer develops in the tissues of the cervix and can be detected with regular pap-tests. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2014, about 4,020 women died from cervical cancer. The most common risk factor of this disease is the Human-Papilloma virus (HPV).
A lecture on the topic of cervical cancer will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. at the North Bergen Free Public Library, 8411 Bergenline Ave. Learn more about cervical cancer, latest research, guidelines, treatment, and ways you can prevent it. The lecture will be presented by Henry Fernandez-Cos, M.D., Obstetrician/Gynecologist at Holy Name Medical Center. This event is made possible by the Hispanic Outreach Program and Holy Name Medical Center for Wellness Wednesdays. For more information call the library at (201) 869-4715 or visit www.nbpl.org.
Classes in the performing arts for kids in Hudson County
The Grace Theatre Workshop, Inc. will hold registration for its professional theatre training program for children ages 8 and up on Mondays through Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. at Jose Marti Freshman Academy, 1800 Summit Ave. Registration begins on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Classes are offered in ballet, hip hop, salsa, tap/rhythm, singing, and acting. The registration fee is $30 per student. The classes are free.
To register, kids must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. No special clothing or equipment is needed. All of the instructors are professional performers. Open to all residents of Hudson County. For more information, log on to www.GraceTheatre.com.
Hackensack Riverkeeper Environmental Scholarship Award accepting nominations
Hackensack Riverkeeper is now accepting applications for the 2015 Ron Vellekamp Environmental Scholarship. Now in its fifteenth year, the program was created in memory of the late science teacher and founding Riverkeeper trustee in order to support college-bound high school seniors who excel academically and who maintain a strong commitment to environmental protection.
Teachers and guidance counselors are invited to submit applications on behalf of deserving students. Each school may nominate one senior. A panel of Hackensack Riverkeeper trustees and staffers led by Captain Bill Sheehan and Program Director Hugh Carola will review each application. The panel will consider the applicant’s academic achievements, environmental extra-curricular activities and future plans. The $1,000 scholarship is unrestricted.
All applicants must live within the 210-square mile Hackensack River Watershed and/or attend a high school located within that region. Seniors at sixty-six high schools in Bergen, Hudson and Rockland Counties are eligible to apply. Full scholarship application criteria are available online at www.hackensackriverkeeper.org or by calling (201) 968-0808. A list of watershed municipalities is available on the links page of the website.
All applications must be postmarked no later than Earth Day, Apr. 22. The winner will be chosen and announced by June 1.
Birds of the Meadowlands photo exhibit on Jan. 14
Photographer Ron Shields presents his stunning images of the Kearny Marsh, Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus, and DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst taken during the past four years. Many of the photos were shot from a kayak in remote areas of the region, giving the viewer a unique perspective on our avian friends.
The event takes place on Wednesday, Jan. 14 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.at the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst. The cost is $6 per person; $5 for MEC members. Registration is recommended and appreciated. For more information call (201) 777-2431.
The Meadowlands rocks!
Join New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) staffer and veteran rock journalist/author Brian Aberback for Rock ‘n’ Roll in the Meadowlands on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. The slideshow presentation will cover Frank Sinatra’s Hoboken roots and the Jersey City doo-wop scene to present-day hard rock guitar virtuoso/Carlstadt native Marc Rizzo and many more. The cost is $6 per person; $5 for MEC members.
For questions, call (201) 777-2431. To receive email alerts about NJMC public programs email communications@njmeadowlands.gov or call (201) 460-4619. The Meadowlands Environment Center is at 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071.
Explore nature’s beauty before the Super Bowl
Before settling in to watch the Super Bowl, nature and bird-watching enthusiasts of all ages are invited to join the Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) and the Bergen County Audubon Society (BCAS) for the Sixth Annual Super Bird Sunday walk at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1, at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. Prizes will be awarded to the first people to spot a bird that serves as an NFL team name: raven, falcon, eagle, seahawk (osprey), cardinal and wood (packer).