Guttenberg asks residents to sign up for local alerts
The Town of Guttenberg has partnered with Nixle to implement a community notification system to alert residents in real-time for localized emergency situations and relevant community advisories. Nixle Alerts can be sent via text, email, web, and the Nixle mobile app in an instant.
Residents can register by texting their zip code to 888777 from their mobile phones or sign up via the Nixle widget on guttenbergnj.org. Once registered, residents will receive a confirmation text to their mobile device. Residents may also customize their alert settings by going to nixle.com and creating a user profile. The service is secure, reliable, and easy to use.
Spring party for Guttenberg kids on March 19
The Guttenberg Department of Recreation, along with the mayor and Town Council, present a Spring Party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 19 at the Anna L. Klein Cafetorium, 301 69th St. This is a free event for children in pre-K through 4th grade, which will include a special visit from the Easter Bunny. The event also includes live DJ and dancing, baton and dance performances, raffles and prizes, and refreshments.
See a model train exhibition on March 19 and 20
The Society of Model Engineers, at 90 years the oldest nonprofit historical and educational organization of its type in the United States, will be open to the public this weekend for its 90th anniversary model train exhibition.
The pride of the society, the model train layouts, cover almost 4,000 square feet. The larger “O” Scale layout is 40 feet by 70 feet and has almost 20 scale miles of train track. It features a detailed scenic diorama with realistic track work, roads, interesting structures, bridges, and tunnels. The “HO” Scale layout is approximately 30 feet by 45 feet. Over 50,000 miniature trees have been installed by the members to depict Northern New Jersey.
The membership of over 100 has joined together in the common interest of preserving the historical significance of American railroads through models and memorabilia.
The exhibition will be open March 19 and 20 at its headquarters, 341 Hoboken Rd., Carlstadt, less than one mile from MetLife Stadium. Hours of the exhibition are 1 to 5 p.m. The requested donation is $7 for adults and $1 for children. For additional information call (201) 939-9212 or visit ModelEngineers.org.
Food drive to help the needy going on now
Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the North Bergen Emergency Relief Fund are hosting a food drive to benefit local food pantries that have reached out looking for assistance. Please pitch in between March 14 and April 11 to help the township collect as much as possible to help the needy.
Drop-off locations are North Bergen town hall, the NB health department, NB police department, NB library uptown and downtown branches, and Our Lady of Fatima church.
Non-perishable items needed include pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, sauce, beans, vegetables, tuna, spam, cereal, granola bars, cereal bars, soup, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, and oatmeal. For information or questions call (201) 392-0229.
Chabad announces two upcoming events
Chabad of Hoboken’s annual grand international Purim Party will be held Thursday, March 24 at The Multi-Service Center, 124 Grand St., Hoboken. Doors open at 5 p.m.
This year’s theme, “Celebrating Purim in Winter’s Wonderland,” will feature a buffet dinner and winter decor. Great entertainment is planned for all ages, including cheek art, balloon shaping, a photo booth, magic, a bar for adults, and more. All are welcome to join regardless of affiliation or background.
Chabad Young Professionals will also host an exclusive party for young Jewish Professionals on Wednesday night, March 24 at the W Hotel. For more information and to RSVP for either of these programs, visit JewishHoboken.com or call (201) 386-5222.
Amnesty for overdue library books in March
The North Bergen Free Public Library is offering amnesty to library patrons during the month of March. Return all North Bergen overdue items in March and the fines will be forgiven for the items returned. Visit the main library at 8411 Bergenline Ave. or the Kennedy Branch at 2123 Kennedy Blvd. to return your overdue items. For more information call (201) 869-4715 or visit nbpl.org.
Free income tax preparation available
North Bergen residents age 55 or over, or in possession of proof of disability, with a yearly income below $55,000 are eligible for free income tax preparation. Preparation is by appointment only. Call (551) 262-0843 between Feb. 6 and April 13. Must bring identification, Social Security card, tax documents and 2014 tax return (first-time participants only).
For details on appointment times and locations, visit the town website at northbergen.org.
Palisades Medical Center to hold community health screenings
Throughout the year, Palisades Medical Center’s staff takes an active role in local communities to provide free health screenings and education programs. The following is a schedule of free health screenings that will be held in the coming months. For more information, call Joanne Riggs at (201) 854-5793.
– March 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Grove Reformed Church, 46th Street and JFK Blvd., North Bergen
– April 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, 7615 Broadway, North Bergen
– April 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 407 23rd Street, Union City
Kids invited to the annual Easter Show on March 24
Mayor Nicholas Sacco and Commissioner Hugo Cabrera join the Easter Bunny in inviting boys and girls ages infant through 9 years of age to the Easter Show on Thursday, March 24 at the Recreation Center, 6300 Meadowview Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m. There will be face painting and Easter bags filled with goodies.
Hackensack Riverkeeper benefit dinner event is March 31
Hackensack Riverkeeper is hosting “Roast for Riverkeeper,” a beefsteak dinner fundraiser which will be held at the Englewood Field Club, 341 Engle St., Englewood beginning at 7 p.m. on March 31. The “roastee” will be Hackensack Riverkeeper Trustee and former Meadowlands Commission Executive Director Robert Ceberio.
The cost is $55 per person, $100 per couple, or $500 for a table of 10. Ticket prices include a full beefsteak dinner by Nightengale Catering, beer, wine, soda, raffles, and a silent auction. Tickets are available at hackensackriverkeeper.org or by calling (201) 968-0808.
The event is a fundraiser for Hackensack Riverkeeper, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Founded in 1997 by Captain Bill Sheehan, Hackensack Riverkeeper is the leading environmental organization working on Hackensack River issues. A founding member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, the group engages in a four-point clean water strategy (action, advocacy, education and litigation) in its ongoing work to protect, preserve and restore the Hackensack River from its headwaters in Rockland County, NY to Newark Bay.
‘Kill Your Idols’ exhibition runs through April 2
Guttenberg Arts Gallery presents “Kill Your Idols,” a solo exhibition of works by Chris Bors, on view through April 2. Bors’s solo exhibition of new paintings includes his series using logos from hardcore punk bands, as well as several relying on text only. Influenced by underground comics, punk and metal music, fanzines, and graphic design, Bors’s work is a post-pop amalgamation of politics, cultural references, and appropriated and drawn visuals. Bors coined the term “virtual dumpster diving” to describe the practice of taking images and videos from the web.
Titled after the New York City-based hardcore punk band Kill Your Idols, the exhibition includes figures representing rapper Easy E, Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, and Saddam Hussein, the latter taken from a drawing by the D.C. sniper John Lee Malvo.
Bors was born in Ithaca, N.Y. and received his MFA from School of Visual Arts. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog featuring an essay by photographer Carl Gunhouse. Guttenberg Arts Gallery is at 6903 Jackson St. Call (201) 868-8585 or visit guttenbergarts.org for more information.
‘Light It Up Blue’ for World Autism Awareness Day on April 2
New Jersey leads the nation with 1 in 42 children diagnosed with autism. Show your support for the autism community by lighting your business blue on April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day.
Each April 2, the international autism community celebrates the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day and kicks off Autism Awareness Month. In honor of this historic day, iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower “Light It Up Blue.” This year, North Bergen is launching a town-wide solicitation of businesses large and small to show support for the autism community.
Your participation in this campaign will help shine a bright light on the growing health crisis of autism, which affects 1 in 68 American children and approximately 70 million people across the globe.
The goal is to show support from all corners of the state for families – your customers, your employees – whose daily lives are affected by autism.
Free health seminar on Zika virus on April 7 at HackensackUMC Palisades
Attend a free seminar on Thursday, April 7, to learn about the many symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options available for pregnant women and women of childbearing age. The Zika Virus spreads primarily through the bite of an infected aedes species mosquito. On Feb. 1, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern. Local transmission has been reported in many other countries and territories. The Zika virus likely will continue to spread to new areas.
The featured speaker for the seminar is Dr. Gigna Patel of the Palisades Women’s Group. The free event will take place at HackensackUMC Palisades (formerly Palisades Medical Center), 7600 River Road, North Bergen. Check-in is at 6 p.m. and the seminar begins at 6:30. Free food and refreshments will be provided. Parking is free, and free transportation is available from 60th St. and Bergenline Ave. starting at 5:30 p.m. Registration contact: Nikki Mederos (201) 854-5702.
Anti-mosquito pesticides may be applied throughout Hudson County
Information regarding the Hudson Regional Health Commission’s Mosquito Control Program is available online. Pesticides for the control of adult mosquitoes may be applied on an area-wide basis throughout Hudson County, as needed, during the period of April 1 to Nov. 30.
For updated information on time and location of adult mosquito control application, call (201) 223-1133 or visit the Health Commission website at http://www.hudsonregional.org/mosquito/.
Real estate leaders to meet in Jersey City for real estate summit
On April 14 and 15, top real estate industry leaders will come together at The Westin Jersey City in Newport as panelists, moderators, and keynote speakers, to discuss and educate on current and contemporary issues in the real estate market.
The 1st Annual New Jersey Real Estate Summit, presented jointly by Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty and the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), commences two days of networking, breakout sessions, and opportunities relating to the trends in the US housing markets and, particularly, the influx of Asian capital.
Speakers at the NJRE Summit are scheduled to include Philip White, CEO and president of Sotheby’s International Realty; Mitchell E. Rudin, CEO of Mack-Cali Realty Corporation; Lawrence Yun, chief economist of NAR; Sherry Chris, CEO and president of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC; and Steven Fulop, mayor of Jersey City; amongst many others.
“The 2016 New Jersey Real Estate Summit in Jersey City is bringing together some of the sharpest and most influential minds in our industry,” said Charles Oppler, COO and owner of Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty.
The NJRE Summit will offer a portfolio of topics to be discussed, including the “Role of China in US Real Estate,” “Secrets of Top Producers,” “ Foreign Buyer Financing and Tax Solutions,” and “What Asian Investors are Looking For,” among many others.
For further information and event registration visit njresummit.com or areaa.org.
East Coast Comicon returns to Meadowlands
After rocking the Jersey Shore with the Asbury Park Comicon, comics artist and promoter Cliff Galbraith created the first East Coast Comicon at the Meadowlands Exposition Center last year. This year the event is even bigger and better, with a host of comic creators and media personalities from the mainstream to the deep underground.
While many conventions have drifted away from comics and focused on other media, East Coast Comicon keeps the emphasis on the original medium and the artists who create it. The event runs Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17 at the Meadowlands Expo Center, with panels each day on topics like “Art and Comic Book Art,” “Making Comics,” and a discussion on Harvey Kurtzman, the legendary creator of Mad Magazine. Over 60 comics creators are scheduled to attend, including some of the best-known and most-revered personalities from the 1960s to today. Come get your items signed or find a treasure from any of the hundreds of exhibitors.
Tickets and information are available online at eastcoastcomicon.com.
2nd Annual Lupus Walk will be May 1
The Second Annual Hudson County Lupus Walk, including a day of family-friendly activities, will take place May 1 in Lincoln Park, Jersey City, beginning at 8 a.m. Donations for individual walkers are $10 and you can sign up for the walk or simply to donate at daddysunshine.com or at hudsoncountylupusdwalk.org. For more information call (551) 689-0500.
Hackensack Riverkeeper launches 2016 Eco-Program season
The clean water advocacy group Hackensack Riverkeeper is poised to provide thousands of people with an enjoyable and educational experience of the river, its watershed, and wildlife. Riverkeeper’s eco-cruises, guided paddles, boat rentals, river cleanups, bird-walks, and indoor presentations combine environmental education with public service and fun. The new season begins Earth Day Weekend (April 23-24) with the re-opening of the organization’s Paddling Center at Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus and Overpeck Park Kayak Center in Teaneck. The Eco-Program season runs through the end of October.
Forty Open Eco-Cruises are scheduled from May 1 through Oct. 15 aboard the 30-foot research vessels Geraldine Theresa and Robert H. Boyle II, which joined the fleet last year. This is Hackensack Riverkeeper’s signature environmental education program. Open trips are great for individuals, couples and families and can be had for a program donation of $25-$30 per person for adults, or $10 for kids ages 4-12. Three distinct Eco-Cruise itineraries are offered, including Meadowlands Discovery, which explores the wetlands and creeks of the river’s estuary. Charter Eco-Cruises can also be arranged for groups of up to 28 adults for any available date/time from May 2 through Oct. 31. Call Capt. Hugh Carola at (201) 968-0808 x102 or e-mail hugh@hackensackriverkeeper.orgfor more info or to book a trip.
Located on the river at Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus, the Paddling Center is open weekends from Saturday, April 23 through Sunday, Oct. 30, weather permitting. It offers the use of canoes and kayaks for a donation of $25 per paddler (two-paddler minimum) for up to four hours for independent exploration. Eleven scheduled guided paddles will be conducted by center staff including nine popular full (and near-full) moon paddles. Program donation is $30 per paddler, or $15 per paddler for those their own boat(s). Private group paddle tours can be arranged by contacting Capt. Hugh Carola at the number above.
River cleanups give people of all ages the opportunity to give back to the environment and their communities. These active conservation events are scheduled at 11 different waterside locations within the Hackensack River Watershed from April 23 through Nov. 6. Riverkeeper provides cleanup tools and supplies as well as refreshments for all volunteers. All they ask is that everyone pitch in and help rid local waterways of litter and other debris. For more information about river cleanups including group participation and the organization’s Corporate River Stewardship Program, call Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator Caitlin Doran at (201) 968-0808 x105 or e-mail Outreach@HackensackRiverkeeper.org.
Information on all Hackensack Riverkeeper Eco-Programs, including descriptions and schedules, is available at hackensackriverkeeper.org.