NBPD hires five new police officers including four military vets
“It is an honor to welcome these fine new officers to the Police Department,” said Mayor Nicholas Sacco on April 13 while swearing in five new officers. “The North Bergen Police Department is one of the best in the state of New Jersey and the township is very fortunate to have such dedicated men and women keeping our community safe.”
“The officers being sworn-in today are a true representation of our community,” said Chief of Police Robert Dowd. “Thanks to Mayor Sacco’s resident-only hiring policy we have managed to build a department that’s nearly 60 percent Hispanic and 12 percent women. We are very proud of these officers and we are happy to welcome them to the North Bergen Police Department.”
Jorge Vanegas enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after high school and served for four years, deployed to Japan in 2009 and Afghanistan in 2011. After his military career, Vanegas enrolled in Bergen Community College.
Cristobal Lara-Nunez was born in Colombia and immigrated to the United States at the age of six. He served in the Army Reserve for eight years with a deployment to Afghanistan in 2011. While on tour his vehicle was struck with an IED and he was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries. After his military service he joined the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.
Xavier Romo enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after he graduated from Memorial High School in West New York in 2002. During his four years of honorable service in the Marine Corps, he was deployed twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq. After his military service, Romo joined the Hudson County Department of Corrections in 2009 and was hired by the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department in 2014.
Felix Vargas served for six years in the United States Navy. His service included three Mediterranean tours and one South American tour.
Jennifer Fernandez is a lifelong North Bergen resident and the daughter of an NBPD sergeant and wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps. Fernandez was hired by the Cliffside Park Police Department as a special police officer in 2012, and in 2014 was hired by Hudson County Sheriff’s Office as a sheriff’s officer.
The five new police officers will join almost 35 officers the township has hired over the past three years.
Library is now open, with extended hours
The North Bergen Free Public Library’s main building was officially opened to the public on Wednesday, April 15 at 12 p.m. The Kennedy Branch hours have been extended and the facility will now be open Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The main library is at 8411 Bergenline Ave. The Kennedy Branch is at 2123 Kennedy Blvd. For more information call (201) 869-4715 or visit www.nbpl.org.
New Alumni Association at HCST
The new Hudson County Schools of Technology Alumni Association will promote communications and connect alumni not only with other alumni, but with current students to help them properly prepare for life after graduation. HCST class of 2005 member Vanessa Cirillo is heading up the formation of the association. “I am thrilled by the opportunity to spearhead the Alumni Association for a school district that gave me so much – I am honored to be able to give back,” commented Cirillo.
The Hudson County Schools of Technology Alumni Association is seeking resumes from graduates who wish to join and serve in an executive board capacity. Those who are interested can send a copy of their resume to Silverio A. Vega or Hilda Rodriguez at hrodrigu@hcstonline.org. Tel: (201) 662-6766. Fax: (201) 854-8006.
Library amnesty event – return your overdue books now without fines
The North Bergen Free Public library will be hosting its annual amnesty event from April 15 to 26. Patrons can return their items during that time with no questions asked and the fines will be waived. Come in and return your items today. For more information call (201) 869-4715 or visit www.nbpl.org.
Free vascular ultrasound demonstration at the library April 27
How are the veins your legs working? Join a free vascular ultrasound demonstration on Monday, April 27 at the North Bergen Free Public Library from 6 to 8 p.m. and receive a complimentary ultrasound study and get immediate feedback.
Do you suffer from any of these leg symptoms: swollen ankles; leg cramps or restless legs; pain while walking; itching or burning; aching, pain, or throbbing; varicose veins or spider veins? Chronic venous insufficiency is a problem affecting 40 million American adults. It’s the often undiagnosed condition behind varicose veins and spider veins. Vascular screening is one of the most effective ways to perform early diagnosis of vascular disease.
The North Bergen Public Library is at 8411 Bergenline Ave.
Pontoon boat cruise and canoe tour season to begin in June
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority’s (NJSEA) 2015 guided pontoon boat and canoe tours of the Hackensack River are set to launch in June, giving visitors a unique opportunity to experience the amazing natural beauty and wildlife of the Meadowlands up-close while learning about the remarkable history of the river and the region.
For those who have glimpsed the Meadowlands only from the surrounding highways or the window of a commuter train, the NJSEA’s leisurely, two-hour boat tours and three-hour canoe trips reveal a whole new environment including acres of preserved wetlands and a thriving ecosystem, all framed by a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline.
Expert NJSEA staff narrate the tours. While talking about the Hackensack River estuary’s storied history they point out wildlife along the way. The Hackensack River is a great place from which to see many of the more than 280 bird species that have been documented in the Meadowlands, including 34 on New Jersey’s threatened, endangered and species of special concern lists.
Pontoon boat trips for ages 10 and up launch from River Barge Park in Carlstadt. Canoe tours launch from various locations in Secaucus and Carlstadt. Canoes hold up to three people, and at least one person should have canoeing experience. Reservations are recommended. Canoe tours are $15 per person and the suggested donation for pontoon boat rides is also $15 per person. For more information, call (201) 460-4677 or email cathy.vonk@njmeadowlands.gov.
For a full schedule or to download a registration form, visit www.njmeadowlands.gov. Registration sheets are also available at the NJSEA offices and the Meadowlands Environment Center, both located in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.
Free monthly health screenings at the library starting April 22
The North Bergen Free Public Library will be hosting a free mobile health screening provided by CarePoint Health. The screening, featuring blood pressure and cholesterol testing, will take place on Wednesday, April 22 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the main library located at 8411 Bergenline Ave. These screenings will take place monthly and will alternate between the main library and Kennedy branch locations and offer different types of exams. For more information call (201) 869-4715 or visit www.nbpl.org.
‘Taste of Italy’ postponed to April 25
The North Bergen Library’s “Taste of Italy” event has been rescheduled for April 25 at 1 p.m. There will be food, literature, music, dance and various demonstrations. The main library is located at 8411 Bergenline Ave. For more information, visit www.nbpl.org or call (201) 869-4715.
Have Coffee with a Cop on April 25
The North Bergen Police Department invites residents to their Coffee with a Cop event at Las Chicas Bakery & Cafe, 7553 Bergenline Ave. on Wednesday, April 22 from 6 to 8 p.m.
No agenda, no speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the officers in your neighborhood. Come for coffee and conversation.
Palisades Medical Center providing community health screenings
Throughout the year, Palisades Medical Center’s staff takes an active role in local communities by providing free health screenings and education programs. The following is a schedule of free events that will be held in the coming months, including free screenings and information on blood pressure, heart rate, percentage of oxygen in the blood, peak flow/respiratory, body mass index – BMI, charity care, and certificates for mammography, prostate screening, and HIV testing. For more information call Joanne Riggs at (201) 854-5793.
– April 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 654 Ocean Ave., Jersey City
– May 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at First United Methodist, 407 23rd Street, Union City
Attend a Birding for Beginners (Optics & Field Guides) class on April 19
This free two-hour Birding for Beginners class starts with a short session on field-guide basics and birding optics – from binoculars to spotting scopes – at the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, followed by a nature walk in the park. The event takes place on Sunday, April 19 from 1 to 3 p.m.. To register, call (201) 230-4983 or go to www.njmeadowlands.gov and click on “events.”
Enjoy a Third-Tuesday-of-the-Month Nature Walk
Celebrate spring with a free Harrier Meadow bird walk in North Arlington on Tuesday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. Walk around the 70-acre natural area, which is normally closed to the public, and look for ospreys, early warblers and shorebirds, and a snipe or two. The walk starts at 10 a.m. and meets outside the Meadowlands Environment Center (carpools will take participants to the site). To register, call (201) 230-4983 or visit www.njmeadowlands.gov and click on “events.”
Earth Day Walk is on April 22
Celebrate Earth Day by joining in a free two-hour guided nature walk in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst on April 22. Walk around parts of the park, looking for spring arrivals, bald eagles, and other birds. The walk starts at 10 a.m. outside the Meadowlands Environment Center. To register, call (201) 230-4983 or go to www.njmeadowlands.gov and click on “events.”