Board of Education election is Nov. 8
In the Secaucus Board of Education election on Tuesday, Nov. 8, there are three open seats. The three incumbents are running again: current Vice President Jack McStowe, current President John Gerbasio, and Kathy O’Connell. Opposing the incumbents are Steven Kilawattie, Sharon Dellafave, and Tom Troyer. Gerbasio has asked voters to avoid voting for him, as he is set to take a council position in January when Councilman Gary Jeffas becomes the new town administrator. It was too late for Gerbasio’s name to be taken off the ballot when he found out.
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. For polling locations, call the Town Clerk at (201) 330-2017.
Issues in the school district include the use of technology, the need for more funding from the state, changes in curriculum, and ways to put students first. Another issue involves Interim Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Knops, who will be replaced by a full-time superintendent voted on by the Board of Education members. A search committee was formed in late 2015 to look for the replacement, and make a recommendation to the full board.
See this week’s Town Council story and our Board of Education story from last month for more information (hudsonreporter.com, see Secaucus News).
CarePoint Health to open nine satellite emergency departments
Nine new satellite emergency departments have been proposed by CarePoint Health for various locations in northern New Jersey, according to an Aug. 4 CarePoint presentation to the state that was reported last week.
CarePoint Health has applied with the state Department of Health to open facilities in Hudson County, Bergen County, and Passaic County.
CarePoint made a 40-page presentation in hopes of placing satellite departments in Jersey City (one on the downtown waterfront and one in Greenville), Union City, Edgewater, North Bergen, Palisades Park, Carlstadt, Lodi, and Clifton.
According to the document, the satellite emergency departments will increase population access to ERs, relieve overcrowding of existing ERs, reduce costs, and allow the area to address the increased need of ERs because of an increase in elderly population.
The planned CarePoint ER would be on Warren Street and Kellogg Street in Jersey City. 56th Street in Union City, and on River Road in North Bergen.
A letter at the end of the presentation from Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Kirat Kharode addressed to Cathleen Bennet, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, states the need for the departments.
“The need for emergency care in these communities is based on a diverse range of factors, including the overutilization of hospital based emergency rooms, population growth, low socioeconomic status and an increasingly aging population,” wrote Kharode. “By creating additional access points to emergency care, patients in the target communities will have the opportunity to obtain necessary emergency care in a timely manner.”
National Novel Writing Month events coming to the library
The Secaucus Public Library has announced that it will participate for the first time in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November. This year NaNoWriMo expects nearly 500,000 people to start a 50,000-word novel in the month of November, guided by this year’s theme: Your Novel, Your Universe.
Sessions start from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. each Monday evening in November, starting on Monday, Nov. 7. Writers ages 16 and older are invited to come to the library’s second floor during the designated Come Write In sessions to work on their novels and meet other local writers. All writers are welcome, whether you have been published before or are attempting to write fiction for the first time. There will be silent workspace for those who wish to work without interruption as well as an Author’s Lounge set up in the NBA Conference Room, where writers will be able to meet, discuss their work, collaborate, and enjoy refreshments. A limited number of computer workstations, laptops, pens, pencils, notepads and other resources will also be available to use onsite.
While the library’s Come Write In sessions are free and require no pre-registration, those interested in participating in the NaNoWriMo writing challenge are encouraged to visit http://nanowrimo.org/ to learn more and to register for the online component of the event.
Free nature walk is Nov. 15
On Tuesday, Nov. 15 the Bergen County Audubon Society will lead a nature walk focusing on ducks, raptors and migrants. The walk takes place in Laurel Hill County Park on Laurel Hill Road. For more information call (201) 230-4983.
Local shelter looking for appropriate home for ‘happy’ pit bull
Even healthy pit bulls have a hard time finding a home. According to Save-a-Bull Rescue, a nonprofit organization, pit bulls and pit bull mixes are the number one dog that people breed in America, but they sometimes end up on the street after being used for fighting or as guard dogs. About 75 percent of animal shelters euthanize pit bulls upon arrival, a euthanasia rate of about 93 percent. Only one in 600 pit bulls find a home, according to a study done by the organization Animal People.
Maribella, a 4-year-old brown and white pit bull at the Secaucus Animal Shelter, needs a home with owners who have no cats. She was almost euthanized because her previous owners, who dropped her off, claimed she had an infection in her uterus. But after she was examined by the doctor at the Secaucus Animal Shelter, the doctor said she was perfectly fine.
The animal hospital usually does adoptions for cats, but Proenza said they’re making an exception for Maribella, because she is loving, cuddly, and sweet.
“We’re trying to find her a good home,” Veterinary Technician Proenza said. “She’s a happy dog with lots of energy. She’s super-friendly, and a big mush who can lay on you to pet her all day.”
Since the hospital is also currently home to many cats, Proenza and the staff know Maribella isn’t good with them. Maribella is sociable with adults, and the team is unsure about children.
Donations to help pay for the emergency medical bill are being accepted at https://www.gofundme.com/2tcq3wkc.
For more information, call 201-867-4795.