Funding for American Dream
The American Dream Meadowlands, the retail/entertainment complex formerly called Xanadu in East Rutherford, found more funding for its finish on Tuesday, Aug. 9, according to The Record. The New Jersey Sports Exposition Authority approved two resolutions to issue $1.1 billion in bonds, the article states.
According to the report, the Public Finance Authority of Wisconsin will serve a conduit of $800 million. The resolution also states that the NJSEA hasn’t decided to issue the bonds, the report stated. The NJSEA previously issued $350 million, according to the report. The addition to the bond agreement will bring the total for the NJSEA to $1.1 billion.
Work on the 93-acre site stopped in November 2015, due to postponed bonds, according to the Record. The American Dream Meadowlands was expected to open in summer 2017, but is now expected in 2018, the report stated.
Local nature walk on Aug. 16
On Tuesday, Aug. 16 join the Bergen County Audubon Society on a walk along the Mill Creek Marsh Trail looking for raptors, migrating shorebirds, egrets and herons. The trails are located at Mill Creek Marsh. The walk begins at 10 a.m.to noon. For more information call 201-230-4983 or email greatauk4@gmail.com.
New senior calendars available at Town Hall, Senior Center
New calendars for senior events are available at Town Hall and the Senior Center.
In addition to the activities at the Senior Center, the monthly calendar of events for August feature trips to Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights, Hudson County boat rides, and the Sands Casino.
In August, senior citizens can enjoy weekly trips to ShopRite, Walmart, and church services, with transportation provided by the Secaucus Senior Bus Service. On Wednesdays, enjoy a combination of crafts, water aerobics, and card club, with lunch to finish it off. On Fridays, take time to relax with morning yoga or an hour of Wii, and enjoy ice cream with Mayor Gonnelli or Councilman McKeever. At night, join the Town for a summer concert or movie at Buchmuller Park.
“The Senior Center is a great place to cool off and socialize with friends, old and new,” Mayor Michael Gonnelli said.
If you would like more information or have a suggestion for future activities or events, please contact Lisa Snedeker at (201) 617-5917 or stop by at 101 Centre Avenue for those 55 and above.
Philippine Madrigal Singers Concert The Sound of Unity, The Voice of Harmony Oct. 22
The Filipino Society is proud to sponsor “The Sound of Unity, The Voice of Harmony,” a musical performance by the international Philippine Madrigal Singers at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Immaculate Conception Church on Paterson Plank Road.
The Philippine Madrigal Singers are bringing their music to ICC as part of its 2016 World Goodwill Choral Concert Tour. They’re presently under the direction of Mark Anthony Carpio.
A standard MADZ performance clearly exhibits the seamless fusion of its musical virtuosity, technical proficiency, and soulful singing. Its highly eclectic repertoire spans the breadth and length of vocal music from Renaissance madrigal musical style to the avant-garde, from Filipino and international folksongs to the latest pop hits, even from the most cerebral choral masterpieces to the most humorous of novelty numbers.
Tickets are priced at $30 advance purchase or $35 at door and are available at the ICC gift shop, Parish Office, or by contacting Father Rolando Yadao at 201-863-4840 or Myrna Cordova at 201-388-5132.
Federal grant will provide turnout gear for local firefighters
On Wednesday, Aug. 3 U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. announced in a press release from Congress that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded a new federal FIRE Assistance to Firefighters Grants to the Secaucus Fire Department in the amount of $34,858. The grant will help the Fire Department purchase turnout gear for 13 firefighters including protective coats, pants and boots.
“It’s our duty to make sure our brave first responders have every possible resource available to them as they put their lives on the line protecting our communities,” Pascrell said. Pascrell is the Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, who introduced the original Firefighter Investment Response Enhancement, or FIRE Act, in March 1999. “This grant will help ensure that the Secaucus Fire Department’s volunteers have every advantage to keep themselves and the families in their community safe. The FIRE Act was written here in the Ninth Congressional District with the purpose of helping communities like Secaucus support their first responders, and I’m committed to fighting for this program so we can continue to bolster public safety across our nation.”
“I am pleased that the federal government continues to invest in the safety of the public here in Secaucus. Our firefighters will be better protected from danger and prepared to address emergencies with new turnout gear,” said Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli, a volunteer firefighter who previously served as fire chief for six years. “I thank Congressman Pascrell for his support for this grant and his commitment to Secaucus.”
This marks the seventh FIRE grant awarded to Secaucus, bringing their total to $745,834.
The program makes direct grants to fire departments to purchase equipment, training, firefighting vehicles, and other firefighting, and fire prevention activities. It also funds Fire Prevention and Safety Grants which are used for fire awareness and prevention activities, as well as fire safety related research.
Pascrell saw the FIRE Act signed into law by President Clinton in 2000. Most recently, the law provided $690 million for Firefighter Assistance in this fiscal year, including $345 million for the program. Now in its 16th year, the program has provided over $10 billion to equip and staff local fire departments.
Shree Swaminarayan Temple celebrated 15 years in Secaucus
On Saturday, Aug. 6 and Sunday, Aug. 7 the Shree Swaminarayan Temple celebrated 15 years in Secaucus. The Temple was opened in 2001 by Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan to honor Lord Shree Swaminarayan, the Supreme Lord in Hinduism, as the headquarters for the faith. Hundreds of followers and members of the local Indian community, as well as community residents, gathered to commemorate the occasion.
The 15th anniversary celebrations kicked off with a flash mob dance, held to welcome Acharya Swamishree and also to commemorate the 25th Anniversary Celebrations of the Smruti Mandir, an all marble, hand carved temple located in Ghodasar, India.
Religious discourses, prayer services, a youth skit, and religious hymns were also part of the first day celebrations. Sunday’s morning program commenced with religious discourses, as well as a large display of food, filled with Indian sweets and delicacies.
The Shree Muktjeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band escorted Acharya Swamishree, Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli, Secaucus Councilman Rob Constantino, Secaucus Councilwoman Susan Pirro, and Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari to the entrance of the temple for the opening of the new name for Penhorn Avenue. The street has been renamed to Swamibapa Way to honor Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa, the religious leader who was the first to bring the Swaminarayan religion to the United States in the late 1970s. Balloons and white doves were also released to commemorate the occasion.
The program continued in the Temple’s Community Hall, with over five hundred individuals from all across the globe in attendance. The Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan donated $1000 to the Secaucus Fire Department and $1000 to the Office of Emergency Management. The religious leader, Acharya Swamishree delivered a sermon preaching themes of peace, love, devotion, and unity.
“Anyone who travels on Swamibapa Way, will be on their way towards salvation,” Acharya Swamishree said. “All of this devotional love that we perform should be done selflessly. Our talents are given to us by the Lord as vehicles of devotion.”
Success at Penhorn Avenue cleanup July 15
On Friday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Secaucus Environmental Department held its first ever corporate cleanup on Penhorn Avenue. Bringing in 34 volunteers from local businesses, the team was able to remove a noticeable amount of debris from the area, including over 35 bags of garbage, close to 50 tires, and a mattress.
Lynn Kramer, Cleanup Coordinator for the Town of Secaucus, put together this event to encourage the employees who work on Penhorn Avenue to get involved in keeping their space clean. Kramer plans on making a cleanup of Penhorn Avenue an annual event.
Mayor Michael Gonnelli applauds the efforts of all involved, especially the local business participants. “Secaucus is a wonderful community to work in thanks to all of the people who call it home daily and are willing to share their time to keep it neat and green,” Gonnelli said in a press release from the Secaucus Environmental Department.
Penhorn Avenue businesses who participated in the cleanup included AJ Worldwide Services, Benmark Construction, Intersection, International Leather and Suede, US Crystal, Art Van Line, K-Line, Bhasin Properties, Pump It Up, Remington, Vernick & Arango, MedShare, and Mega Shipping.
Secaucus is known for being a green town, holding a Silver Level Certification with Sustainable Jersey. The Environmental Department works on a daily basis to find new ways in which residents and businesses can help keep Secaucus green. In addition to the work that was done on Friday, Lynn and her team hold several cleanups throughout the year.
For more information about how you or your business can get involved, please contact Lynn Kramer at 201-330-2000, x3060.