Congress passes Landmark Opioid Bill July 13
According to a press release from the Drug Policy Agency, on Wednesday, July 13 the U.S. Senate voted to send opioid legislation known as the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) to President Obama for his signature. The U.S. House voted last week 407-5 to approve CARA. According to the release, the measure advances a large number of treatment and prevention measures intended to reduce prescription opioid and heroin misuse. That includes evidence-based interventions for the treatment of opioid and heroin addiction, and the prevention of overdose deaths.
The press release said CARA contains interventions for the opioid and heroin crisis if fully funded by Congress. CARA supports the expansion of programs that send people convicted for low-level drug law away from the criminal justice system, and into evidence-based treatment and other services, according to the release.
The release stated CARA also supports the expanded provision of buprenorphine, methadone and other forms of medication-assisted treatment. According to the release, the majority of correctional facilities do not provide treatment for opioid dependence.
According to the release, CARA supports the expanded use of naloxone, an opioid overdose remedy, by first responders and community members such as family members in a position to administer naloxone. Naloxone effectively reverses opioid overdoses and is safe to use.
CARA also includes a provision that permits nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe buprenorphine for the first time, the release said. This change will raise the number of patients that a practitioner can treat with buprenorphine from 100 to 275, the release stated.
Prieto, Jimenez and Mukherji bill eliminating obstacle to organ donation advances
Legislation that Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Assembly Democrats Angelica Jimenez and Raj Mukherji sponsored to eliminate a deterrent to organ donation was advanced by a Senate committee on Monday.
The bill (A-374) would prohibit the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission from imposing duplicate identification card fees and replacement driver’s license fees, including the digitized picture fee, if a person requests the duplicate identification card or replacement license solely for the purpose of reflecting that he or she has become an organ donor.
Currently, the cost of having a duplicate identification card or replacement license issued is $11, including the digitized picture fee.
“We should be doing everything we can to promote organ donation,” said Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen). “Organ donation saves lives, and we should not be letting fees get in the way of it. This bill is, quite simply, common sense.”
“We need to encourage organ donation, not discourage it,” said Jimenez (D-Hudson/Bergen). “The difficult fact is that $11 is too costly for many hard-working New Jerseyans. Prohibiting this fee is a positive and life-saving step forward.”
“Each New Jersey resident who chooses to register for organ donor designation could potentially save eight lives,” said Mukherji (D-Hudson). “With more than 120,000 people in the United States waiting for a transplant, it’s important that we eliminate barriers to organ donation.”
The bill, which gained unanimous approval from the Assembly in February, was advanced by the Senate Transportation Committee.
Christie transportation shutdown affects three Hudson County projects
The New Jersey Department of Transportation, under an executive order signed by Gov. Chris Christie after his administration and legislators were unable to agree on a new revenue plan for the exhausted NJ Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), has advised the Hudson County Engineer to suspend all county projects funded by the NJ Transportation Trust Fund (TTF).
The following Hudson County projects are currently suspended: Concrete Deck Rehabilitation, Park Avenue Bridge in Hoboken; improvements to Newark/Jersey City Turnpike, Phase II and Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard; and improvements to JFK Boulevard East from Bergenline Avenue to Woodcliff Avenue, West Hudson Park and Newark Street.
The Hudson County Division of Engineering contacted each project contractor to advise of the suspension. Currently NJDOT anticipates the suspension to extend a minimum of seven days. The initial demolition work carried out earlier this week on the Park Avenue Bridge was ordered to be repaired to allow two-way traffic to flow by 6 a.m. Tuesday, July 12.
Come to free Shakespeare in the park
The Hudson Shakespeare Company returns with the second installment of its 25th annual Shakespeare in the Parks tour. They’ll perform the play Edward III written by William Shakespeare and Thomas Kyd on Thursday, July 21 in Hamilton Park in Jersey City on 25 West Hamilton Place at 7 p.m., and Thursday, July 28 at 7 p.m. in Van Vorst Park on 257 Montgomery St. This month the company flashes back to the story of King Richard II and King Henry IV’s grandfather Edward III and his son Ned the Black Prince. Edward III is the man who started the Plantaganet dynasty. The play continues the story of the Plantaganet family. Edward III is a warrior kings interested in claiming the French throne and also getting even with King John of France and his son Charles for embarrassing him in his own court. The shows are free. Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for the park showings and register for library showings. For more information call (973) 449-7443 or visit www.hudsonshakespeare.com.
Aug. 13 is Paddle Day at Lake Tappan
The third and final leg of the Hackensack Riverkeeper’s 2016 Reservoir Paddle Series is set for Saturday, Aug. 13 with a rain date for Sunday, Aug. 14.
Lake Tappan Paddle Day is a family-friendly day of paddling on the Lake Tappan Reservoir in Old Tappan. The paddle day is an annual fundraiser that supports Hackensack Riverkeeper’s mission to protect, preserve and restore the Hackensack River.
The Reservoir Paddle Series offers unique public access to Lake DeForest, Oradell Reservoir, and Lake Tappan. All are bodies of water normally off-limits to the public. A complete description of the event including directions, schedule, rules and age restrictions is available online at www.hackensackriverkeeper.org or by calling (201) 968-0808.
Lake Tappan Paddle Day consists of morning and afternoon paddling sessions: 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12:30 to 3 p.m. Check-in begins an hour prior to each session. Paddlers may bring their own boat or rent one from Riverkeeper’s fleet (single kayak, tandem kayak, or canoe). Paddlers are strongly encouraged to register online at www.hackensackriverkeeper.org. Those who register by July 25 will receive one free event t-shirt per registration.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided to all paddlers beginning at 11:30 a.m., courtesy of Inserra ShopRite. A water station will be set up throughout the event.
Free seventh annual Butterfly Day walk July 30
The Annual Butterfly Day at the Meadowlands is back. Enjoy butterfly walks and talks Saturday, July 30 during this family-friendly event. Onsite experts will help identify various butterflies. Monarchs, skippers and crescents are among the species that are likely to be seen.
There are plenty of kid’s activities, including a scavenger hunt, face painting, a butterfly costume contest for 12 and under, and crafts. Butterfly Day is co-sponsored by the Bergen County Audubon Society and the North American Butterfly Association. The rain date is scheduled for Sunday July 31.
Meet at the Meadowlands Environment Center on 2 DeKorte Park Plaza in Lyndhurst Saturday, July 30. The event is free and begins 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.
Free nature walk is July 19
Join the Bergen County Audubon Society as they look for herons, egrets, shorebirds and other birds of interest at Mill Creek Marsh. The group will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19. For more information call (201) 230-4983 or email greatauk4@gmail.com.
July 25 is free national moth night in Lyndhurst
Dr. Elena Tartaglia, co-founder of National Moth Week, will give a presentation on the cousins of butterflies Monday, July 25. Industrial-strength lamps and white sheets will be set up in DeKorte Park and sugar bait will be used to attract moths for easier viewing.
The event starts at 8:30 p.m. with Dr. Tartaglia’s history in the Meadowlands Environment Center, then it’s out to the park to view the insects until 10 p.m.
The Meadowlands Environment Center is located at 2 DeKorte Park Plaza in Lyndhurst. Register at njsea.eventbrite.com. For more information call (201) 460-8300.