15 summonses issued for violations of Angelie’s Law in NB
Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Board of Commissioners praised the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs for working cooperatively with the North Bergen Police Department to conduct surprise inspections of random commuter vans in the township last month, resulting in 15 summonses for violations of Angelie’s Law.
Among other things, the law requires buses to post notices notifying passengers of how to report complaints to the state Division of Consumer Affairs. The companies in violation of the law were reportedly each ordered to pay a $1,000 civil penalty and $176.87 as reimbursement for the investigation.
“It is absolutely unacceptable for commuter van operators to fail to comply with Angelie’s Law, which was designed to ensure the safety of riders, pedestrians and all residents of Hudson County and beyond,” said Sacco. “I thank the Division of Consumer Affairs for working with our North Bergen Police Department in enforcing this vital law that protects our residents and I expect to see continued enforcement operations like this to make it very clear to van operators that if they do not abide by the law they will be caught and penalized.”
As a state senator, Sacco was the prime sponsor of Angelie’s Law, named for North Bergen toddler Angelie Paredes, who was tragically killed when a van crashed and knocked a lamp post onto her stroller in West New York. The driver had allegedly been using his cell phone before it happened.
“Sadly nothing will ever bring Angelie back to the parents and family who loved her so much,” said Commissioner Julio Marenco, a close friend of the Paredes family who acted as their spokesman in the wake of the tragedy. “But I know that Maylin and Jairo Paredes are happy to see the law that was passed in their daughter’s name be enforced and that the authorities are taking action to prevent another tragedy like what happened two years ago from ever happening again.”
b>Italian feast/carnival coming to Braddock Park Columbus Day weekend
The Hudson County Community Action Corporation is sponsoring a carnival and Italian feast in James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park on Columbus Day weekend. The event will take place on Friday, Oct. 9 from 5 to 10 p.m.; and on Saturday through Monday, Oct. 10 to 12, from noon until 10 p.m.
There will be rides for children and adults, as well as food vendors and play stands. The event will be held on Fields 1 and 2 next to the handball courts across from the tennis courts. Freeholder Anthony Vainieri helped organize this event.
The library’s movie of the month is ‘Cinderella’
Come attend a screening of “Cinderella,” the 2015 romantic fantasy film directed by Kenneth Branagh based on Charles Perrault’s eponymous fairy tale. The film stars Lily James as Ella (“Cinderella”), Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine (the wicked stepmother), Richard Madden as Prince Charming, Sophie McShera as Drisella, Holliday Grainger as Anastasia, and Helena Bonham Carter as the fairy godmother.
The film screens at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 at the North Bergen Free Public Library, 8411 Bergenline Ave. For more information call (201) 869-4715 or visit nbpl.org.
Sign up now for Guttenberg children’s recreation programs
The Town of Guttenberg will offer a fall recreation program for the children of Guttenberg. A variety of activities are planned, including cheerleading, dance, arts and crafts, and baton twirling. Residents interested in participating can fill out the form on the town website and return it on one of the registration dates. Do not return these forms to school. The registration fee is $25. One fee for all activities. Checks or money orders only, paid to the Town of Guttenberg.
Registration takes place at Anna L. Klein School from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 7 and 8; from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9; and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 10. Programs begin Oct. 13. Also available will be soccer and basketball clinics, with dates to be announced. For more information visit guttenbergnj.org.
Enjoy senior citizen movie matinees on Oct. 8 and 9
The 2015 romantic comedy-drama “Aloha” will be shown at the public library’s main branch at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8. The film, written, produced and directed by Cameron Crowe, is about a celebrated military contractor (Bradley Cooper) who “returns to the site of his greatest career triumphs and reconnects with a long-ago love (Rachel McAdams,) while unexpectedly falling for the hard-charging Air Force watchdog (Emma Stone) assigned to him.” The main library is located at 8411 Bergenline Ave.
On Friday, Oct. 9 at noon, the Kennedy Branch Library will screen “Boulevard,” the 2014 drama directed by Dito Montiel and written by Douglas Soesbe. The film stars Robin Williams in his final on-screen role, as “a devoted husband in a marriage of convenience forced to confront his secret life.” The Kennedy Branch is at 2123 Kennedy Blvd.
Celebrate ‘Star Wars Reads Day’ at the library on Oct. 10
Saturday, Oct. 10 is “Star Wars Reads Day” at the North Bergen Free Public Library. The day will be filled with plenty of Stars Wars themed fun and festivities, including a Jedi Training Show with lightsaber duels, a Darth Vader meet-and-greet, a Star Wars themed photo booth, Star Wars themed face painting, costume contests, a chance to check out and win the latest Star Wars books, and more. The fun starts at noon. Join us you must.
The Main Library is located at 8411 Bergenline Avenue, North Bergen, NJ 07047. For more information contact the library at (201) 869-4715 or visit nbpl.org.
Pancake breakfast fundraiser at Fairview VFW on Oct. 11
The auxiliary of the VFW Post 337, 560 Fairview Ave., Fairview, will hold their first pancake breakfast fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee, and tea will be served. Donations are $7 per person, with children under 5 free.
Proceeds will go to scholarship awards to Fairview students, and various veterans programs in the State of New Jersey. For tickets or more information call Carol Cocco at (201) 314-9972. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Two free Wellness Wednesdays events upcoming at library
Two free bilingual events are upcoming at the main library, 8411 Bergenline Ave. from 7 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 14 and Nov. 11. Call (201) 833-3336 to register.
On Oct. 14 the library presents “Colorectal Cancer Update” with speaker Peter Caride, MD, gastroenterologist, Holy Name Medical Center. Attendees will learn about colorectal cancer, including the latest research on guidelines to help prevent and treat it.
And on Nov.11 Hilda Hernandez-Sepulveda, RN, BSN, CDE, Holy Name Medical Center will speak about “Everything You Want to Know about Diabetes.” Get the latest information on managing diabetes and take the opportunity to ask questions about treatments, strategies for glucose control, prevention of complications and other issues related to diabetes.
‘This Is My Brave: The Show’ comes to NYC in collaboration with The Depressed Cake Shop
One in four people face mental health issues. Nearly every family in America has been touched by this treatable challenge. Yet, the conversation on the subject still remains muted and the sufferers closeted. “This Is My Brave – The Show” raises the volume of conversation around mental health, one powerful story at a time.
The show is being put together in part by former Jersey City resident Lorne Jaffe.
The lauded, groundbreaking concept, which has received rave reviews and has been touted as “healing for humanity,” is coming to New York for one night only, Sunday, Oct. 4, at Hunter College’s Kaye Playhouse, 695 Park Ave., just in time for Mental Health Awareness Week beginning Oct. 11. “This is My Brave” will feature 14 individuals whose first act of bravery was auditioning for a role in this very unique evening. The cast will share their true stories about living with, or loving someone with a mental illness, through comedy, poetry, personal essays and original music.
Depressed Cake Shop’s gray baked goods will be on sale with all proceeds benefitting “This Is My Brave’s” mission of ending stigma through storytelling. Jennifer Marshall and Anne Marie Ames launched the 501(c)3 non-profit in 2014 to create a safe community and a platform to speak out about stigma associated with mental illnesses. Both had been impacted by mental illness and wanted to fight the isolation and disconnection by giving people from the community a chance to share their stories onstage.
The performance is Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/kayeplayhouse/calendar.
For info on all shows, visit www.thisismybrave.org/events/.Twitter: @ThisIsMyBrave Web: www.thisismybrave.org
Nutley Little Theatre will perform ‘Lapped’ on Oct. 4
Nutley Little Theatre will stage its first Readers’ Theater event of the 2015-2016 season on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. with a reading of “Lapped,” an original piece by NLT member Joe Del Priore, at the NLT Barn, 47 Erie Place, Nutley. Admission is free.
Del Priore, a North Bergen resident, has often contributed short comedy-dramas for NLT readings and workshops. On this occasion, readers will be Sharon Curran of West Orange and Vicky Chalk of Nutley. Supplementing Del Priore’s piece will be a reading of ribald limericks by Dickson Lane of West Orange. (The event will not be suitable for children.)
NLT’s Readers’ Theater series features actors reading scripts of new and established plays, supplementing NLT’s regular, fully staged performances. Readers’ Theater events are open to the public, free of charge.
Nutley Little Theatre stages its productions at the NLT Barn, 47 Erie Place, Nutley, located off Brookfield Avenue (one block east of Franklin Avenue) in the heart of the Erie Place Historic District. For directions, see nutleylittletheatre.com. For information about this or other productions, call (973) 667-0374.