DWI on Kennedy Blvd.
The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office conducted a series of patrols through the weekend and into the beginning of this week that led to a series of arrests throughout the county.
On Saturday, Aug. 13, Hudson County Sheriff’s Officers arrested Raul Monroy of Union City after he was pulled over for allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed in the area of Kennedy Blvd. and 74th Street in North Bergen, according to a press release. Sheriff’s Officers administered a field sobriety test and said the driver had a Blood Alcohol Content of .18. Monroy was charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Careless Driving, and Driving with an Expired License.
Free outdoor movie at the library Aug. 30
Join the Main Library for an outdoor movie event featuring the movie The Jungle Book released this year. The event will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. The Main Library is located at 8411 Bergenline Ave. Bring a chair or blanket. Admission, popcorn, and drinks are free. Please contact the library at 201-869-4715 for more information.
North Bergen skateboarder still in critical condition after being hit by ice cream truck
On Saturday, Aug. 13 Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari sent out a press release with an update regarding a critical accident on Bergenline Avenue in Union City on Monday, Aug. 8.
“Ruben Pena, victim of an accident on Bergenline Avenue and 30th Street in Union City, remains unconscious and in critical condition at the Jersey City Medical Center.
The crash is still under investigation and there are no charges pending. Last Monday night Union City Police, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, Union City EMS and Jersey City Medical center paramedics responded to Bergenline Avenue and 30th Street on the report of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.”
Union City Police arrived and found 20 year old Ruben Pena, of North Bergen, unconscious on the street. He was riding a skateboard on the sidewalk, south on Bergenline Avenue, when he continued into the intersection and was struck by a Mr. Softee truck that was travelling east on 30th street. The driver of the truck, 64, of Cliffside Park, remained at the scene.
Pena was transported by Union City and Jersey City EMS to the Jersey City Medical Center where he had to undergo emergency surgery and is currently listed in critical condition.
Crash Investigators from the Sheriff’s Office are reviewing the evidence and video from local businesses in the area.
“The truck appeared to have the right of way and Pena was wearing earbuds at the time of the crash,” Schillari said in the press release.
Hospice training course available
Do you want to do volunteer work that really makes a difference in the lives of the terminally ill and their families? Volunteer roles include companionship for patients, emotional support for patient and family, errands and telephone reassurance.
The Hudson Hospice Office, 93 Clerk St., Jersey City, is offering six free volunteer training classes on six consecutive Tuesdays, mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. Classes begin Aug. 23 and end on Sept. 27 and you must commit to attend all six classes.
For further information, call Sister Carol at (201) 433-6225.
Nearly $6M to hire firefighters for five towns
Congressman Albio Sires and U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker announced recently that North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue is receiving $6 million in federal funding to hire full-time firefighters and help strengthen the department’s ability to effectively respond to local fire emergencies, protect high-risk populations and decrease firefighter injuries.
North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue will receive a $5,994,660 SAFER grant to hire or retain full time firefighters. NHR is New Jersey’s only regionalized fire department and serves the following municipalities: Guttenberg, North Bergen, Weehawken, West New York and Union City. Its 12.5 square-mile primary service area is the nation’s most densely-populated.
The SAFER program is designed to increase the number of frontline firefighters, enhancing the ability of grantees to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing and assuring that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards.
Schedule of upcoming free community health screenings
Throughout the year, HackensackUMC Palisades provides free health screenings and education programs. The New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) recognized HackensackUMC Palisades’ Community Outreach Program with its Community Outreach Award for its unique and effective methods of reaching out to better serve the healthcare needs of area residents.
Free screenings include blood pressure, heart rate, and percentage of oxygen in the blood, and certificates for mammography, prostate and HIV testing. Locations include North Bergen, Union City, West New York, and more.
For more information about health screenings, locations, and dates, please call Suleima Rosario-Diaz at 201-854-5793.
Impaired driving enforcement crackdown until Sept. 5
Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari announced that the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in New Jersey’s largest annual drunk driving crackdown. Officers from Hudson County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in the 2016 Labor Day Statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. Beginning Aug. 19 and running through Sept. 5, county, local and state law enforcement officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols, looking for motorists who may be driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
In 2014 alcohol-impaired fatalities accounted for 27 percent of New Jersey’s motor vehicle fatalities. As part of the initiative, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety provides grants to local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to run the two-week campaign. “Last year, 20 percent of the fatal crashes in Hudson County were alcohol related” Schillari said.
Sheriff Schillari offers advice like designate a driver, someone who will not drink alcohol, before going out, take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home, or spend the night where the activity is held.