Guttenberg Arts celebrates first anniversary
Over the last year Guttenberg Arts has achieved many accomplishments with the support of a growing community of friends and partners dedicated to making Hudson County a cultural destination for the arts. To celebrate their first anniversary, they held an open house and barbecue on Saturday, May 9, complete with wine, beer, and a celebratory cake.
Guttenberg Arts hosted 11 artists in residence in their first year, along with 12 exhibitions and three free workshops. They have also held five artists talks, a “Women in Print” panel discussion, demos in printmaking and ceramics, and more. Upcoming they are organizing the Braddock Park Arts Festival scheduled for June 14.
Guttenberg Arts is located at 6903 Jackson St. in Guttenberg. For more information or to sign up for their mailing list, visit www.guttenbergarts.org.
‘Click It or Ticket’ seat belt enforcement campaign runs May 18 to 31
Law enforcement officers from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office will crack down on unbuckled motorists and passengers as part of the national “Click it or Ticket” campaign.
Beginning on May 18 and running through May 31, the annual initiative will include high visibility law enforcement seat belt checkpoints and additional patrols, as well as local and national publicity designed to ensure that drivers and passengers recognize the life-saving value of seat belts. Extra sheriff’s patrols, paid for with federal grant money, will be patrolling the county highways, roads, and parks, day and night.
Front seat belt usage rate in New Jersey currently stands at 87.59 percent. The goal is to increase the statewide rate to 90 percent. This year’s campaign will also focus on rear seat passengers, as well as nighttime enforcement. During evening hours seat belt usage is traditionally lower and the percentage of unbelted fatalities is higher.
During the 2014 “Click it or Ticket” campaign, 374 police agencies participated in the two-week initiative. As a result of the effort, law enforcement officers issued 26,635 seat belt citations, 4,363 speeding summons, and made 944 drunk driving arrests.
2015 cheerleader registration upcoming
Cheerleading registration for North Bergen and Guttenberg residents is days away. Registration will be at the North Bergen Recreation Center, 6300 Meadowview Ave., on May 18 for the Giants, May 20 for the Eagles, and May 22 for the Red Raiders, There will be only be one tryout per team starting at 5 p.m.
Ages nine and 10 (born in 2005 and 2006) must try out for the Giants. Ages 11 and 12 (born in 2003 and 2004) must try out for the Eagles. Ages 13 and 14 (born 2001 and 2002) must try out for the Raiders.
Anyone interested must bring a copy of their birth certificate, proof of residency, and $35 registration fee. Cash or money order only are accepted; no personal checks.
High Tech Musical Theatre readies ‘A Chorus Line’ for Edinburgh Fringe this August
High Tech Musical Theatre, the award-winning teen theatre based out of High Tech High School at Hudson County Schools of Technology, is celebrating its 15th anniversary with performances commemorating the 40th Anniversary of “A Chorus Line.” Students have been preparing for their May 14-17 performances in New Jersey, after which they will embark on another run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August at The Space Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. The cast consists of junior and senior musical theatre majors in the program, which accepts students from throughout Hudson County.
Earlier this year, Broadway stars gathered for a “Broadway Love” concert to help raise money for the Scotland trip. The event raised about $6,000, but they still need more to reach their final goal of $160,000 to take 25 students to the festival. Attending “A Chorus Line” is a great way to help them out, or by donating to their Gofundme page: www.gofundme.com/elcavc.
“A Chorus Line” is a musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante. The story provides a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer as they describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers.
“A Chorus Line” runs May 14 to 17. High Tech High School is at 2000 85th Street, North Bergen. Tickets are available at: www.showtix4u.com.
Seven sent to hospital following crash on Boulevard East
Seven people wound up in the hospital following a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of JFK Boulevard East and Hudson Place in Weehawken on Saturday afternoon. At approximately 12:15 p.m., Weehawken Police responded to a motor vehicle crash involving three vehicles including a parked car. The crash was turned over to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Unit for reconstruction and investigation.
According to a press release from Hudson County Sheriff Frank X. Schillari, a 77-year-old driver from West New York was traveling north on Boulevard East in a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta when it crashed into the rear of a white 2007 Toyota Matrix. The Toyota then hit a 2010 Mustang parked nearby.
“The Volkswagen then rolled backwards over 200 feet and came to rest at the intersection of Duer Place and Boulevard East,” said Schillari. The driver of the Jetta suffered a severe head injury and was unconscious when police arrived. “There were six passengers in the Toyota, including a four year old child that was not in a child seat.”
The driver of the Jetta was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center by Weehawken EMS and was listed in stable condition as of Sunday morning. Extra ambulances had to be called to transport all six passengers of the Toyota to Jersey City Medical Center with minor injuries.
The driver of the Toyota, a 31-year-old resident of Maryland, was issued a summons for having an unrestrained child in a vehicle. “The cause of the crash is still under investigation,” said Schillari. “Preliminary findings indicate that the Volkswagen was not speeding.”
Hackensack University Health Network and Meridian Health to merge
Meridian Health and Hackensack University Health Network announced this week that they have signed the definitive agreement for the two health systems to merge and become Hackensack Meridian Health.
“Hackensack Meridian Health will truly elevate the level of healthcare provided throughout much of the region by creating the state’s most comprehensive healthcare system,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, president and CEO of Hackensack University Health Network.
“From the beginning we knew that we were embarking upon a great relationship that would have tremendous benefits to residents within our service areas and I could not be more pleased with the process that got us here today, which will, in the end, create one of the most comprehensive patient-focused and quality driven healthcare systems in the state,” said Gordon Litwin, Esq., chairman of Meridian Health Board of Trustees.
The combined entity will have 11 hospitals, including Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, along with a network of physician practices, ambulatory surgery centers, home care, long-term care and assisted living facilities, ambulance services, fitness and wellness centers, and outpatient centers. Hackensack Meridian Health will employ approximately 25,000 team members and nearly 6,000 physicians on staff.
The merger still requires state and federal regulatory clearance, which the health systems expect within the next nine to twelve months.
Network on a Spirit of New Jersey Cruise with the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce
The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce is collaborating with Entertainment Cruises and a number of regional chambers – the Newark Regional Business Partnership, the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce, Commerce and Industry of New Jersey, and the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce – on a Business Networking Cruise from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.
The event begins with networking dockside in Weehawken, followed by a 90-minute cruise as the sun begins to set. Enjoy a buffet dinner, cash bar, DJ, and dancing. This is an opportunity to network with professionals from across the Northern New Jersey region while enjoying the breathtaking views along the Hudson.
Boarding, networking, and dinner take place at 5 p.m. at Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken. The cruise departs the dock at 6 p.m. and cruises the Hudson River until 7:30. The cost is $65 for members, $90 for non-members. Payment must be received in advance to secure your reservation. Space is limited. Hoboken members, call to register at the member price. Free parking is available. For more information contact Anthony Chinni at (201) 386-0699, ext. 270.
Run the Palisades on May 17 to support the Diabetes Foundation
The 7th annual Run the Palisades event, one of Bergen County’s premier road races, will once again support the Diabetes Foundation. Scheduled for Sunday, May 17, the event will feature 5K and 10K run/walks, a kids run, and a health fair.
“Diabetes affects nearly one million people in New Jersey. It’s the third leading cause of death, and a major cause of blindness, heart disease and amputation,” said Roberta Schmidt, executive director of the Diabetes Foundation, located in Paramus. “This is a disease that does not discriminate. Yet, getting tested and having a solid understanding of just what diabetes is can make a huge difference in both preventing it and helping individuals and their families learn to live with it more successfully.”
The Diabetes Foundation (www.diabetesfoundationinc.org) provides short-term diabetes medications and supplies to needy people with diabetes, supports services that offer information and resources for diabetes management, and sends children with diabetes to summer camp.
Run the Palisades is hosted by the towns of Fort Lee and Cliffside Park, and sponsored by Novo Nordisk. Visit http://runthepalisades.org for more information.