Help ‘Clear the Shelters’ and rescue needy animals on July 23
Clear the Shelters, the wildly successful nationwide pet adoption drive that took the community and the country by storm in 2016, is coming back on Saturday, July 23 in West New York. The nationwide pet adoption drive also offers local families the opportunity to adopt an animal in need by offering no-cost or reduced fee adoptions, or waiving pet spaying and neutering fees. The event will run all day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on 6412 Dewey Ave. in West New York.
Last year, the New Jersey Humane Society teamed up with local NBC and Telemundo stations to provide local families with the opportunity to adopt an animal in need by offering REDUCED FEE adoptions. “Together, we were able to help 100 pets find new, loving homes. It was an incredible event and we are so excited to do it all over again this year,” said Aurelia Cruz, Animal Control Officer from the New Jersey Humane Society.
Last year’s inaugural Clear the Shelters drive literally emptied dozens of animal shelters across the country and resulted in nearly 20,000 animals finding new homes through the partnership between NBCUniversal-owned television stations and 400 animal shelters from all across the country and Puerto Rico.
Clear the Shelters helps to address the overcrowding issues that local animal shelters typically experience in the summer months because of spring litters.
Union City short-term rental update
The Union City Board of Commissioners passed a law in December of 2015 banning residents from renting out their properties to other people for fewer than 31 days. Property owners routinely use websites like Airbnb to do this. Those violating the law will pay $250 or more per violation.
A recent article written on Sunday, June 26 it was stated that residents can’t rent out their properties “unless the host remains on site throughout the stay.” It was also stated in the article, “In Union City, it’s legal to rent your house, apartment, or room out as long as the host is present during the guest’s entire stay.”
However, this was in error. the ordinance states that no one with a property in Union City can rent out the property to anyone for less than 31 days even if they live or stay on site.
At a council meeting on Tuesday, June 21 officials proposed a new ordinance that would increase the current fine of $250 to $500 for the first violation, and $1,000 anytime after that, but it was tabled.
Advocates met with Mayor Brian Stack privately to speak about a different solution besides an increased fine and prohibition. The advocates and the mayor planned to meet again after press time. Officials don’t know when this ordinance will be voted on, but the next Board of Commissioners meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 16.
Two weeks ago, the North Bergen commissioners voted on a similar ordinance.
Fatal accident on Kennedy Boulevard July 9
According to a press release from the county of Hudson, a Union City resident was fatally struck Saturday July 9 while crossing Kennedy Boulevard.
Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari said the victim, Justin Winters, 33, was seen by witnesses crossing the street at the intersection of Seventh Street and Kennedy Boulevard in Union City. Winters was struck at approximately 10:15 p.m., according to Schillari in the press release.
The driver, 22, of North Bergen, was traveling southbound when he fatally struck the pedestrian, according to the press release. Winters was brought to the Jersey City Medical Center, according to the press release, and was pronounced dead at 11:01 p.m. According to Schillari in the press release, the accident is still under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time.
A number of pedestrians have been killed on John F. Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen, Jersey City, and Union City over the past few years, leading to much discussion about what can be done to make the road safer.
West New York Cuban Lions Club supports diabetes outreach
The West New York Cuban Lions Club recently made a generous donation to the HackensackUMC Palisades Foundation to help bring free diabetes testing to residents throughout Hudson and southern Bergen Counties that have limited access to health care.
The free diabetes tests will be offered as part of HackensackUMC Palisades’ community outreach health fairs that are conducted throughout the year to bring healthcare education, screening, and affordable treatment referrals to local families.
HackensackUMC Palisades has a very active community outreach program that provides free health services to the surrounding community. At the core of these services are a series of health fairs. A generous and loyal partner in these efforts has been the West New York Lions Club. In addition to hosting one of the largest health fairs, the Lions Club provides support for “HgA1c” testing, which is an accurate way of diagnosing and treating diabetes.
This testing is critical to the public health as there is an extremely high prevalence of diabetes in the Hispanic/Latino communities served by HackensackUMC Palisades. In addition to free testing for more than 1,000 people in the past year, Dr. Frank Portugal, a resident at HackensackUMC Palisades, hosted an educational seminar for those who had positive test results.
“We are grateful for the support and service provided in collaboration with the Cuban Lions Club that makes this vital service available to those who need it,” said Joseph Burt, VP/Executive Director of the HackensackUMC Palisades Foundation.
Prieto, Jimenez and Mukherji bill eliminating obstacle to organ donation advances
Legislation that Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Assembly Democrats Angelica Jimenez and Raj Mukherji sponsored to eliminate a deterrent to organ donation was advanced by a Senate committee on Monday.
The bill (A-374) would prohibit the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission from imposing duplicate identification card fees and replacement driver’s license fees, including the digitized picture fee, if a person requests the duplicate identification card or replacement license solely for the purpose of reflecting that he or she has become an organ donor.
Currently, the cost of having a duplicate identification card or replacement license issued is $11, including the digitized picture fee.
“We should be doing everything we can to promote organ donation,” said Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen). “Organ donation saves lives, and we should not be letting fees get in the way of it. This bill is, quite simply, common sense.”
“We need to encourage organ donation, not discourage it,” said Jimenez (D-Hudson/Bergen). “The difficult fact is that $11 is too costly for many hard-working New Jerseyans. Prohibiting this fee is a positive and life-saving step forward.”
“Each New Jersey resident who chooses to register for organ donor designation could potentially save eight lives,” said Mukherji (D-Hudson). “With more than 120,000 people in the United States waiting for a transplant, it’s important that we eliminate barriers to organ donation.”
The bill, which gained unanimous approval from the Assembly in February, was advanced by the Senate Transportation Committee.
Sires announces federal grant for North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue
Rep. Albio Sires (D-8th Dist.) has announced over $745,000 in federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) funding for North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue.
“I congratulate North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue for this significant grant,” said Rep. Sires. “This important funding will better equip firefighters protecting Guttenberg, North Bergen, Union City, West New York, and Weehawken and keep their residents safe.”
North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue will be able to purchase 80 self-contained breathing apparatus machines. The new machines will replace the existing air packs which are over 15 years old and have reached life expectancy. This will allow for all on duty firefighters to be equipped with this life saving apparatus. The self contained breathing apparatus will give the firefighter 10 extra minutes of air time for firefighting inside a burning structure, or more importantly, allow for 10 more minutes to escape from a hazardous atmosphere.
The AFG Program provides grants to qualified agencies in order to strengthen their overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and related hazards.
The music of Billy Strayhorn is Aug. 3 at ‘Summer Concerts on the Hudson’
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Billy Strayhorn’s birth, “Summer Concerts on the Hudson” will present a musical tribute on Wednesday, Aug. 3. Billy Strayhorn was a genius composer and arranger, who is well known for his close association with Duke Ellington. Led by pianist and musical director John Di Martino, this one-night-only concert will feature many well-loved Strayhorn compositions such as “Lush Life” and “Take the A Train.” Featured musicians include three Hudson County residents: 14-time Grammy winner Paquito D’Rivera and Chuck Cooper of North Bergen, and John Di Martino from Union City, as well as trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, and award-winning vocalists Alicia Olatuja and Chuck Cooper.
This concert will take place at 7 p.m. at Lincoln Harbor Park, on the west bank of the Hudson River in Weehawken. Free parking is available and public transportation, including NJ Transit bus from Port Authority and Light Rail, will bring concertgoers to Lincoln Harbor. Please use 1600 Harbor Boulevard for GPS directions.
The Hudson Riverfront Performing Arts Center, Inc. (HRPAC), a New Jersey Not-For-Profit, presents this summer long series of open air concerts free of charge to the general public. The Hudson Reporter is a co-sponsor.
Limited seating is available; however, audience members are asked to bring a lawn chair or blanket, if possible, and encouraged to picnic on the lawn. A rain date, if needed, will be scheduled for the following night.
For more information including the full summer concert schedule, directions, updates, and rain date info, please check the HRPAC website, www.hrpac.org, or call the concert info line at (201) 716-4540.
Golf merchandise shop will open
From Friday, July 22, to Sunday, July 24, the Championship Shops at Baltusrol Golf Club will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a special Grand Opening Celebration Weekend prior to the start of the 2016 PGA Championship.
No tickets or credentials are required for the public to attend the Grand Opening Weekend. Parking is complimentary and located inside Gate 1 at 498 Hillside Avenue, Springfield, N.J.
The Championship Shops is a 39,000 square-foot merchandise shopping experience located adjacent to Hole 17. The shops feature men’s, women’s and children’s apparel from top brands including Ralph Lauren, Adidas, Nike, Under Armour, Cutter & Buck, Greg Norman, 47 Brand, Sunice, New Era, Garb and more, as well as an extensive selection of exclusive accessories, gifts and memorabilia. Additionally, the Championship Shops will feature the launch of the 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup team uniforms.