Briefs

Weehawken resident Howard Weinfeld, 29, was arrested outside of the Secaucus town pool on Sunday and is facing charges of lewdness, three counts of luring and enticing juveniles, and four counts of harassment, police said.

The arrest was made when a Secaucus resident reported told pool supervisors that he had seen a man allegedly masturbating in his car.

“Someone who was waiting for his wife must have see him,” said John Schwartz, manager of the Swim Center. “He came to us and we called the police.”

According to other news reports, another call had been made earlier by three girls, one age 15 and two age 16, who had said a man in the area had asked them if they wanted to “watch him do stuff.”

Library to hold fundraiser for Children’s Garden; free movies

T he Secaucus Library and Business Resource center has several activities coming up in upcoming weeks.

The movies are geared towards a more adult audience and range from Hitchcock horrors to family comedy. All movies will be playing on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in the Panasonic viewing room. The movies are free, but the library suggests calling ahead.

The remaining movies are “Lifeboat,” Aug. 14, “Wild Hogs,” Aug. 21, and “Perfect Stranger,” Aug. 28.

Also, the library will hold a fundraiser at the Wendy’s located at 20 Meadowlands Parkway.

Ten percent of all dining room sales made between 5 and 8 p.m. will go towards the Children’s Reading Garden currently under construction at the library.

The garden is planned for dedication during the 10th Annual Mini-fair.

The fair is open to anyone and money will be raised from the vendors who purchase spots to sell items as well as raffle chances.

Table spaces cost $15 for a spot 8 ft. long and $25 for anything bigger.

The Library is also sponsoring a bus ride to see “My Fair Lady” at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The show is on March 18 and the bus will leave at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $75.

For information on any of these events, contact the library at 201-330-2083.

Schools Construction Corp is replaced

G ov. Jon Corzine signed legislation last week dissolving the ill-fated New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) and replacing it with the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA). The reorganization places the new SDA in the Department of Treasury.

“The reorganization of the SCC is testimony to the commitment of this administration to implement reforms that put an end to the waste and mismanagement of the past,” Corzine said. “We now have a more streamlined entity with the proper controls in place.”

The SCC was criticized for overspending on projects and fiscal mismanagement.

The New Jersey Schools Development Authority will focus solely on the construction of schools in the Abbott (urban “special needs”) districts, while the New Jersey Economic Development Authority retains the responsibility to provide financing for school facilities projects.

Also contained in the legislation are other reforms that will strengthen the school construction program, including changes to land acquisition policies and procedures and a new process to sequence projects in the Abbott districts based on educational priorities and needs.

The legislation provides greater authority to the Abbott districts to manage their own projects if they successfully demonstrate the capacity to do so.

The new authority will consist of the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Community Affairs, the CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the State Treasurer, and 11 public members, up from the original seven. The public members will be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and will serve five-year terms.

Sires votes for foreign investments scrutiny

R ep. Albio Sires voted last week to insure that national security procedures remain in place to avoid the situation created in 2006 with Dubai Ports World. H.R. 556, The Foreign Investment and Security Act, will ensure that foreign investments receive the necessary scrutiny so that our country remains secure. This bill that was passed by the Senate last month will now go to the President’s desk for his signature.

“Recent terrorism threats abroad remind us that our country must be vigilant if we want to remain safe,” said Congressman Sires. “This bill offers a series of checks and balances that will keep tabs on foreign investments in critical infrastructure, as well as monitoring the access foreign companies may have in the United States.”

In 2006, Dubai Ports World, a company owned by the United Arab Emirates, announced they were taking over the management operations of six major ports in the United States. One of the ports was Port Newark, located in the 13th Congressional District of New Jersey. The deal was approved with little scrutiny by the Bush Administration.

The Foreign Investment and Security Act significantly strengthens the review of foreign investments by requiring CFIUS, the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment in The United States, to conduct a 30-day review of any national security-related business transactions.

This bill also requires that CFIUS designate a knowledgeable lead agency – such as the Department of Defense for defense acquisitions – in reviewing transactions and insuring senior-level accountability.

Hudson Hospice seeks volunteers

T he staff at Hudson Hospice is looking for volunteers to help care for their terminally ill patients and their families.

Volunteer roles might include companionship for patients, emotional support for patient and family, errands, telephone reassurance and transportation. Hudson Hospice provides homecare for their patients.

Volunteer hours are flexible, and are based on the needs of the patient/family and the availability of the volunteer. Training takes place in Jersey City, but volunteers are sent to different places in Hudson County.

Prospective volunteers must attend the Volunteer Training Program, which will run from Sept. 11 to October 30. Sessions are scheduled for Tuesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon or Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m.

For more information and a pre-interview call Sister Carol at (201) 433-6225.