North Bergen Hosts Salvadorian Flag Raising and Parade
Town hall was packed for a ceremony marking the raising of the Salvadorian flag on Friday, Sept. 16. Mayor Nicholas Sacco addressed the crowd along with Commissioner Julio Marenco and Freeholder Anthony Vainieri.
Also in attendance were Ana Lorena Siria de Lara, consul to El Salvador, and Vice Consul Walter Antonio Gonzalez Castaneda, both of whom spoke, before the audience rose and enthusiastically sang the national anthem.
The ceremony was capped by a raising of the flag of El Salvador over North Bergen Town Hall, marking El Salvador Independence Day. El Salvador achieved its independence from Spain 95 years ago when the Central American Independence Act was signed on September 15, 1821.
The first Salvadorian parade in Hudson County took place the following Sunday, Sept. 18 along Bergenline Avenue, from 79th Street in North Bergen south to 43rd Street in Union City. The parade began about noon and was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Mayor Sacco, Commissioners Marenco and Allen Pascual, Freeholder Vainieri, Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari, Union City Mayor Brian Stack, Guttenberg Mayor Gerald Drasheff, West New York Mayor Felix Roque, and U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, who was named the “godfather” of the parade.
Free seminar on memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease at the library
Join HackensackUMC Palisades for a free seminar on Wednesday, Oct. 5 to learn about the symptoms and treatments of memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. Memory loss that disrupts everyday life is not a normal part of aging. This seminar will explore the difference between normal age-related memory changes and abnormal changes that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, including some of the common warning signs. The presentation also reviews the importance of receiving a thorough diagnostic evaluation when symptoms first arise, current treatment options, and research regarding healthy aging.
The featured speakers are medical professionals from HackensackUMC Palisades and Alzheimer’s New Jersey. The North Bergen Public Library is located on 8411 Bergenline Ave. The seminar is Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m for check-in, and it begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission, food, parking, and refreshments are free and will be provided.
To register contact Nikki Mederos at 201-854-5702.
Free breastfeeding discussion Sept. 28
In recognition of World Breastfeeding Month, the free monthly health discussions at the library will center around tips about breastfeeding. HackensackUMC Palisades will celebrate the mothers who chose to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. The seminar and dinner are free, and welcome expecting mothers, new mothers returning to work after birth and new mothers who have returned to the workplace and continued to breastfeed.
Featured speakers will be medical professionals from the Lactation Department at HackensackUMC Palisades, and professionals from Palisades Child Care Center will be on hand for a Panel Discussion and Q&A Session.
HackensackUMC Palisades is located on 7600 River Road. The panel takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free, and light dinner will be provided. Free transportation is available from 60th Street and Bergenline Avenue starting at 5:30 p.m.
To register contact Robin or Debbie at 201-520-4785.
Movies by Moonlight on Sept. 29
Enjoy a free outdoor movie on a large screen in a beautiful park facing Manhattan when North Bergen and Guttenberg bring you “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.”
The show begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29 in Waterfront Park, 7200 River Road. Admission is free, and so are the snacks and transportation. The event is sponsored by Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the North Bergen Commissioners, and Mayor Gerald Drasheff and the Guttenberg Town Council.
North Bergen will run buses from both libraries for this event. Contact the library at (201) 869-4715 for more information. Guttenberg crosstown buses will pick up and drop off at regular crosstown bus stops between the hours of 6 and 9 p.m.
Hundreds Attend First Concert in Waterfront Park
Residents from North Bergen and Guttenberg turned out in large numbers to enjoy the first-ever concert in Waterfront Park, “Classic Hits Under the Stars” on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
Singers performed a wide variety of popular tunes from across the years while attendees relaxed on the steps ringing the stage or in lawn chairs.
The concert was sponsored by Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the North Bergen commissioners, and Mayor Gerald Drasheff and the Guttenberg Town Council. Both townships provided free bus service from several locations, along with free snacks, refreshments, and seating. Performers included Dee Sepulveda, Vegas Valentine, Lori Nego, Eddie Scott, Faith Angelfly, Lucy, Doc, and Ray. Raul “DjRv” Vicente Jr. was the emcee for the event.
Waterfront Park was opened last year in a collaboration between North Bergen and Guttenberg, who jointly own and maintain it. Following the standout success of this inaugural concert, look for more events to take place here in the future.
Teachers invited to EdCamp Urban Oct. 15
On Saturday, Oct. 15 Union City High School will host a unique and popular teacher learning experience called EdCamp Urban which is a professional development program for teachers to share ideas in an interactive and highly participatory environment. EdCamps have been hosted all over the country and are growing in popularity among teachers and administrators. The one-day event uses technology and dialogue as the basis for sharing experiences, best practices, and techniques to improve classroom instruction and learning.
All educators, including pre-service teachers are encouraged to attend.
Edcamp Urban is founded by Hudson County educators: Marcos Navas, Bibiana Prada, Dan Borghoff and Krista Welz.
The first ever EdCamp Urban will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Union City High School on 2500 John F. Kennedy Blvd in Union City. Free parking is available in the Union City High School parking lot. Free breakfast and lunch will be provided and participants will have opportunities to win valuable education-related door prizes. Registration is required. Participants may register by visiting www.edcampurban.org.
Dance auditions for Inner City Youth Pre-Professional Program
The Kennedy Dancers, Inc, is now in their 40th year, and announced auditions for the Inner City Youth Pre-Professional Program, also known as ICY. The ICY full and partial scholarships are available to students ages 15 to 18, who have had at least two years of dance training.
Scholarships consist of after school dance classes in ballet, ballet variations, ballroom, modern, tap, theatrical jazz, gymnastics/tumbling, and repertory rehearsals. The scholarship includes free dancewear and dance shoes.
This program provides advance training that gives talented teens the opportunity to learn many forms of dance. All participants are assisted in applying to College/University dance programs and also with auditions. The Kennedy Dancers, Inc also assists in applying for internships, teaching, and opportunities to performances.
The auditions will be held in the modern dance class on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 4:30 p.m. Arrive at 4 p.m. to fill out forms. Auditions will end at 6 p.m. The auditions will be held at Kennedy Dancers Studios located at79 Central Ave. in Jersey City. In order to reserve a spot for a position, please call at 201-653-2190 and leave a message or email kennedydancers@aol.com. Teens who have training in ballet, modern, or jazz will have an advantage at the auditions. The class will be taught by professional dance teacher from the Kennedy Dancers Repertory Company, Eli Cano. Dancers must wear professional clothing such as tights, leotards, ballet slippers, and jazz shoes. There is no income limit for applicants. If your family has low, moderate or high income, all teens 15 to 18 are eligible for the audition. This audition is for talented teens; residency and financial status is not an issue whether you are low or high income, scholarship is still available.
Local student sets record at Paralympic Olympics
A Hudson County Schools of Technology (HCST) County Prep High School Class of 2012 alum and Jersey City native, Raymond Martin, won a gold medal and set a new record during the 1500m T52 race in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“It’s such a pleasure to see this young man represent Hudson County and the Hudson County Schools of Technology in such a positive manner on the world stage,” said Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise. “We are all very proud of him.”
Martin set the Paralympic Record in the 1500m race with a time of 3:40:63. He also competed in the 400m race taking the top medal of gold, and winning the silver medal in the 100m race.
“Raymond is a really special person,” said HCST Superintendent of Schools Frank J. Gargiulo. “He serves as an inspiration to our current students and alumni at the Hudson County Schools of Technology, demonstrating that hard work and dedication truly do pay off.”
He previously competed in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, winning Gold in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m races. Raymond holds the World Record in the T52 classification in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m races. He is also the first man to win five individual word titles at a single International Paralympics Committee (IPC) competition.
“There was no doubt in our minds that Raymond was going to succeed and make a difference,” said County Prep High School Principal Barbara Mendolla. “We at County Prep are all very proud of him, he has always been disciplined and ambitious, even as a student.”
The HCST Foundation originally awarded Martin a scholarship so he could attend the trials for the 2012 London Paralympics.
“The records and accomplishments that Raymond has achieved is no surprise to the HCST family,” said HCST Foundation Executive Director Linda J. Quentzel. “We always believed in his abilities and determination, and knew we were making a wise investment in our student in helping him get to the 2012 Paralympics.”
Martin is entering his senior year at the University of Illinois, majoring in Kinesiology and pursuing a career as a Physicians Assistant.
“I have been working with the Special Olympics for over 30 years, and am elated over Raymond’s accomplishments,” said HCST Board President Craig Guy. “He is one of our many students and alumni that are change makers in the world, and we are proud to have played a small part in preparing them for their careers.”