Christie signs legislation merging Meadowlands Commission and NJ Sports Authority
In a development that is expected to reap a tax savings for Secaucus, the New Jersey Meadowlands Authority will merge with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority as a result of new legislation signed by Gov. Christopher Christie on Thursday, Feb. 5.
The bill will also eliminate the current tax sharing program that impacts 14 municipalities in the region. Previously, municipalities with more development, including Secaucus and North Bergen, were required to pay up to $3 million annually into a tax sharing fund, while municipalities with less development received money from the fund each year.
In addition, the new legislation re-establishes the Hackensack Meadowlands Transportation Planning District.
Christie has called the legislation “imperfect in its current form” but expressed that it was important to “move forward with this common sense consolidation of government to deliver savings to New Jersey taxpayers.” The governor said he would discuss follow-up legislation with the bill’s sponsors, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and state Sen. Paul Sarlo.
Pamper your pet this Sunday
Sassy Styles Mobile Pet Spa will provide pet spa treatments at the Secaucus Animal Shelter, 525 Meadowlands Pkwy., on Sunday, Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All proceeds from this event will go to the animal shelter.
Pets can be groomed, indulged, and revitalized by Sarah Kleespies from Sassy Styles. Pamper your pooch or kitty with nail cutting and ear cleaning ($15), winter paw pad treatment ($10), tooth brushing ($8), or waterless shampoo ($10). These are just a few of the indulgences Sassy Styles will deliver.
For inquiries call Janet at (201) 893-5448.
High school student donates live-saving devices for Eagle Scout project
Boy Scout Isaac Williams, 17, donated two automated external defibrillators to the Secaucus Police Department after purchasing them with more than $1,500 he generated through fundraising events.
“I always had a passion of wanting to protect people and to defend the Constitution,” said the Secaucus resident at a “Coffee with a Cop” event last year. For his Eagle Scout project he hosted a family movie and dinner night and participated in a health and safety event. The defibrillators, used in cases of cardiac arrest, cost about $760 each. They will be put into two new police cars being acquired by the town of Secaucus.
A senior at Secaucus High School, Williams hopes to pursue a career in law enforcement. He plans to attend the National Security Studies program at New Jersey City University next year.
Clarendon School provides senior citizen Valentine’s Day breakfast on Feb. 11
The staff and students of Clarendon School along with the mayor and Town Council invite all Secaucus senior citizens to Valentine’s Day breakfast on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 9 a.m.
Following the breakfast, there will be entertainment from the students. Call (201) 865-4422 to make a reservation. Please do not arrive prior to 8:30 a.m. to ensure all children have arrived at their classrooms without disruption.
High Tech students attend hip-hop youth summit at Columbia University
Twenty-seven students from High Tech High School, a public high school accepting students from all Hudson County towns, took part in the third annual “Cyphers for Justice: Hip-Hop Youth Summit” at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Sponsored by the Institute for Urban and Minority Education (IUME), Cyphers for Justice (CFJ) Youth Day summits assemble high school students, artists, community workers, and pre-service and in-service educators from across the tri-state area to participate in a day devoted to interactive skill-building workshops, presentations, and hip-hop discourse centered on socio-educational justice issues. High Tech has attended two of the past three CFJ Youth Day summits.
The following High Tech students took part in this special day’s events: Brianna Kelly of Bayonne; Jalen Vargas of Guttenberg; Jersey City residents Jaelan Acosta, Robert Clores, Edsel Engalla, Jr., Sade Ford, Kennedy Hargrove, Ashley Johnson, Fatmata Kamara, Ashlesha Kulkarni, Gabriella Navas, Natalie Papas, Hamza Qureshi, Chandni Raithatha, Vanessa Rosensweet, Cynthia Vasquez, and Ben Vock; Kelly Molina and Devon Vaz of Kearny; North Bergen residents Emily DeCaro, Jeanette Fernandez, and Karina Voronich; Alana Aninipot, Aaleah Oliver, and Kerri Sitty of Secaucus; and Union City residents Kaitlin Juarez and Sabrina Quinones.
Classes in the performing arts for kids in Hudson County
The Grace Theatre Workshop, Inc. is currently holding registrations for its theatre training program for children ages eight and up on Mondays through Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. at Jose Marti Freshman Academy, 1800 Summit Ave. 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.
Hudson County Chamber showcases investment in Hudson County
The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce will host more than 150 community leaders at its annual business meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 9 at Liberty Science Center. The focus of this year’s event is “Investing in Hudson County.” New Jersey Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Alma DeMetropolis, NJ market president for JP Morgan Private Bank, will headline the program. The forum will serve as a platform for business dialogue and showcase the exhibits of more than 20 companies.
“The theme central to our 2015 annual business meeting is that the investment of both the public and private sector is vital to Hudson County’s continued growth,” said Maria Nieves, the chamber’s president and CEO. “We look forward to hosting a conversation between our members and featured speakers regarding initiatives to support a strong regional economy.”
“The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting the dynamic growth and development of Jersey City and its environs. All of us involved as stakeholders are engaged in showcasing our unique assets, building important linkages and helping the county reach its full potential,” added Daryl Rand, president and CEO of HarrisonRand Advertising and chair of the chamber’s board of directors.
For reservations to the annual business meeting, call (201) 386-0699 x 27 or visit www.hudsonchamber.org.
Join the Secaucus Drug-Free Community Coalition to help build a safe, healthy, and drug-free community
Among hundreds of towns and organizations that applied across the nation, Secaucus was one of the successful awardees of the Drug-Free Communities grant.
This federal grant provides funds to increase efforts to address local substance abuse issues. Working together, volunteers will meet on a monthly basis to organize, plan, and coordinate efforts with this new initiative to build a healthier community in the Town of Secaucus.
For questions or for more information contact Jill Preis, Secaucus Alliance, at jpreis@sboe.us or (201) 553-6883; or Tania Guaman, coalition coordinator, at tguaman@secaucus.net or (201) 330-2000.
Free breast cancer support group for Latina Women
To support Latina patients and survivors with breast cancer, Jersey City Medical Center – Barnabas Health and Curémonos, a community-based organization, will hold a “Let’s Talk/Let’s Learn” support group in Spanish at the Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center, 377 Jersey Ave. on the Jersey City Medical Center campus from 4 to 5 p.m. on February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, and June 11.
Attendees will have the opportunity to share information on coping with such issues as treatment side effects, improving communication with doctors and family, and regaining self-esteem, and to meet the hospital’s new bilingual oncology nurse navigator Michelle Ashley.
“A breast cancer diagnosis is an experience that changes your life and fills you with fear. Coping can be especially difficult if doctors don’t speak your language, or you don’t have family nearby to support you,” said Dora E. Arias, founder and executive director of Curémonos, which was created to provide education, support, and advocacy to medically-underserved women with breast health concerns or a breast cancer diagnosis. “With the support of Jersey City Medical Center – Barnabas Health and program sponsor Genentech, we are offering Latina women a setting where they can share their fears, questions, suggestions and successes both during and after treatment.”
“For more than a year, the hospital has held, and will continue to hold, a very successful support group for English-speaking breast cancer patients to share their experiences and feelings,” said Dr. Julie DiGioia, medical director of the Cristie Kerr Women’s Center. “Thanks to our partners, we can now offer a similar opportunity to members of the community who are undergoing many of the same experiences but speak primarily Spanish.”
The English speaking support group will meet from 5 to 6 p.m. on the same dates at the Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center.
The program is free and refreshments will be served. To register, call Vivian Rohrsetzer at (201) 915-2000 x 4855.
Mardi Gras coming to the Senior Center
Southern belles and gentlemen, don’t miss the Mardi Gras Celebration. ‘Fat Tuesday” takes place at the Senior Center, 101 Centre Ave., on Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. Only $2 gets you a night of Southern food and fun. Call (201) 865-4422 to sign up today.
Senior citizen computer classes
Hudson County is offering free “Tech Savvy” computer classes for Secaucus seniors on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Feb. 24.
A bus will pick up residents from the Senior Center at approximately 2:30 p.m. and return to the Center at 6 p.m. Space is limited. Call (201) 865-4422 to make a reservation.
Urban League of Hudson County Black History Bowl 2015 set for Feb. 26
To encourage education, knowledge and fun in a friendly, competitive atmosphere, all Hudson County Middle Schools (public and private) and youth organizations are invited to participate in the Urban League of Hudson County Black History Bowl 2015, on Feb 26 at Snyder High School, 239 Bergen Ave., Jersey City, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Each school or organization may send up to two teams and each team must consist of four students from grades 6-8 along with a team coach. A coach may have more than one team.
Upon registration, each team will be provided a study guide of Black History facts, trivia questions and answers. The Black History Bowl’s questions will be taken from the study guides.
The bowl will be played in a game-like format of answering questions posed by a moderator. Each team must answer each question accurately and in a timely manner which will be determined by the bowl coordinators.
The ULOHC sponsors this event to encourage success, to continue to empower the community, and change lives along with a celebration of Black History. First and second place teams will be awarded a cash prize.
For further information contact Gregory Moreau at (201) 451-8888 ext 220, or gmoreau@ulohc.org. You must register your team to receive a packet of Black History facts, trivia questions and answers.
11th Annual Guma Foundation ‘Casino Night’ coming on Feb. 28
The Guma Foundation will host its 11th annual Casino Night on Saturday, Feb. 28 at LaReggia’s Restaurant in the Meadowlands Plaza Hotel, 40 Wood Ave. Proceeds will benefit The Tomorrows Children’s Fund and children with brain tumors. Tickets to the event, which starts at 7 p.m., are $100 per person and entitle the bearer to an evening of casino-style gaming with casino chips, live music performed by “The Fez,” open bar and buffet, and prizes too numerous to list, according to Pat Guma, president of The Guma Foundation. Attire is business casual with jacket optional.
Youngsters with brain tumors are the main recipients of donations from The Guma Foundation, which honors the lives of the late Ralph Guma Sr. and Ralph Guma Jr. Diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of nine, Ralph Guma Jr. survived to age 33, attended local schools and earned a college degree.
The fundraising organization’s mission began in 1991with the awarding of the RMG Scholarship that resulted in more than $30,000 over the years being given to deserving high school graduates to help defray the costs of their post-high school educations.
“The Guma Foundation eventually changed its mission and we redirected our energies,” said Pat Guma. “As a result, to date we have contributed over $100,000 to the Tomorrows Children’s Fund at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC). With my sons and the support of family and friends, we have committed the Foundation’s efforts to providing at least $10,000 annually to the Tomorrows Children’s Fund. In addition, since 2000, The Guma Foundation has donated more than another $10,000 directly to the families of sick children to help support the youngsters’ needs and fulfill some of their dreams.”
The Guma Foundation is a registered not-for-profit organization. To purchase tickets and pay online, or for further information about the Foundation, visit its website at www.gumafoundationinc.org.