North Bergen to host free immigration clinic on March 28
The Township of North Bergen, in partnership with The North Bergen Board of Education, Hudson County, and the non-profit group We Are One New Jersey, are set to host an immigration clinic on Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at North Bergen High School, 7417 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
“The immigration clinic is truly an ideal event to provide great services and opportunities for people in our community who want to become citizens or permanent residents and are unable to attain this due to financial concerns,” said Mayor Nicholas Sacco. “North Bergen has a very diverse population made up of people from many different communities and backgrounds. This is what makes North Bergen such a wonderful inclusive and welcoming community.”
The free clinic will provide U.S. citizenship application guidance and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) application and renewal assistance. Volunteers from immigrant groups, legal community associations, civil rights organizations, and student associations, among others, will provide citizenship application assistance, citizenship fee waiver application assistance, DACA application assistance, translation, and free public notary services.
The event follows up on a previous immigration information session the township hosted about a month ago, where over 50 local immigrant residents attended and benefited from learning about their immigration rights and duties.
Sacco has been an outspoken supporter of President Barack Obama’s executive order on immigration and was one of the first public officials in New Jersey to publicly support the President’s initiative.
Sacco team Board of Education candidates announced
Mayor Nicholas Sacco announced his support for the “Our Children First 2015” ticket for the upcoming North Bergen Board of Education election. The ticket features longtime Board Trustee Ruth Shaw and newcomers Sam Jaafar and Claudia Rodriguez. Shaw, Jaafar, and Rodriguez will run in the April 21 school board election in ballot positions 4, 9, and 11.
“This school board ticket represents the diversity that makes North Bergen such a dynamic place, and it features three candidates with strong ties to our community who care deeply about public education,” said Sacco. “I am proud to support Ruth, Sam, and Claudia and look forward to working with them.”
Ruth Shaw has served on the Board of Education for the past nine years and will be running for her fourth term. Sam Jaafar is a supply chain manager at a large engineering firm who has lived in North Bergen for over 15 years and has three young children in township schools. If elected, Jaafar would become the first Arab-American elected official in township history. Claudia Rodriguez works as a legislative aide to Senator Sacco, assisting him with research and drafting of legislation and handling constituent services.
Jaafar and Rodriguez are running in the place of longtime trustee Maurena Luzzi, who is retiring from elected office, and Board of Education President Julio Marenco, who is not seeking re-election and is running on the Sacco team for the Township Commission.
Palisades Medical Center named a ‘Top Hospital in New Jersey’
Inside Jersey magazine and Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. have released their annual survey of top hospitals in the state of New Jersey, and Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen is ranked the number four hospital in the state among hospitals with 350 beds or fewer. The prestigious “2015 Top Hospitals in New Jersey” list is tabulated based on votes from 1,817 licensed physicians in the state.
“We are extremely pleased that the Top Hospitals in New Jersey list acknowledges that Palisades Medical Center is a leading provider that delivers high quality medical care for the people of Hudson and southern Bergen Counties,” said Bruce J. Markowitz, president and CEO of Palisades Medical Center. “We applaud our entire medical staff for their tireless efforts in helping Palisades reach these high standards of excellence in patient care. Our physicians, skilled nurses, and devoted staff ensure that each patient receives the very best medical care.”
During the past several years, Palisades Medical Center has been recognized throughout New Jersey for consistently improving its hospital facilities, expanding its clinical programs and services, and adding modern technology to address and enhance the changing healthcare needs of its patients.
High Tech zoology students win Kids to Parks Day national school contest
Five High Tech High School freshmen in Dr. Arun Srivastava’s zoology class have submitted one of the winning proposals in the National Park Trust’s Kids to Parks Day National School Contest.
The five students – Bar Yifrakh of Hoboken, Jersey City resident Syedah Hasnain, Cassandra Romeo of Kearny, North Bergen resident Martha Reyes, and Sarais Ovalle of Secaucus – will collect information on flora and fauna at Liberty State Park, and promote healthy living through activities such as bicycling, kayaking, and hiking.
The contest, sponsored by The National Park Trust (NPT), assists grade school and high school teachers and students in promoting local parks. To qualify, students must submit proposals for a Kids to Parks event to be held at their community park. NPT awards scholarships of up to $1,000 to winning entries for each class, with the money used to implement a Kids to Parks event on May 16. The High Tech students’ proposal calls for a $594 budget for a Kids to Parks event at Liberty State Park, which would cover bus transportation, canoe rentals, entrance fee, guided tour, costs of stewardship project (plants, mulch, cleaning supplies, etc.), refreshments, and healthy snacks.
“I strongly believe that when students’ educations go beyond the classroom and textbooks, they learn the most,” said Dr. Srivastava. “They can also experience the rich, diverse world around us in a more meaningful way.”
WNY Cuban Lions Club Health Fair on April 13
The West New York Cuban Lions Club is teaming with Palisades Medical Center to present its annual Community Health Fair. The event, which is free and open to the general public, will be held on Sunday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the New Community Room, 514 52nd Street (between Bergenline Ave. and Kennedy Blvd.) in West New York.
Free health tests and screenings will include blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol, dental, eye/vision information, physical therapy, percentage of oxygen in the blood, diabetes, sleep disorder information, glaucoma screening, and more. Several physicians will be in attendance to answer questions. Attendees will receive free samples and giveaways.
For more information, contact Manny Reyes (201) 424-1201 or Nikki Mederos at (201) 854-5702.
Free income tax preparation available for eligible residents
The township of North Bergen has hired a certified public accounting firm to provide free tax preparation services for senior citizens and disabled residents. North Bergen residents age 55 or over, or those in possession of proof of disability, with a yearly income below $55,000, are eligible for free income tax preparation assistance. Residents must bring identification, Social Security card, tax documents, and a 2013 tax return (first-time participants only).
Preparation is by appointment only. Call (201) 381-7014. Services are available until April 15 on Wednesdays between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Lawlor Tower, 6121-6131 Grand Ave., and on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the Public Library Kennedy Branch, 2123 Kennedy Blvd. Services are also available at the Public Library Main Branch, 8411 Bergenline Ave., on Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Enjoy a ‘Taste of Italy’ on April 18
The North Bergen Library will be hosting the fifth installment of their “Taste of” cultural series featuring Italy. “Taste of Italy” will be held on Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m. There will be food, literature, music, dance, and various demonstrations. The main library is located at 8411 Bergenline Ave. For more information visit www.nbpl.org or call the library at (201) 869-4715.
Palisades Medical Center providing community health screenings
Throughout the year, Palisades Medical Center’s staff takes an active role in local communities by providing free health screenings and education programs. The following is a schedule of free events that will be held in the coming months, including free screenings and information on blood pressure, heart rate, percentage of oxygen in the blood, peak flow/respiratory, body mass index – BMI, charity care, and certificates for mammography, prostate screening, and HIV testing. For more information call Joanne Riggs at (201) 854-5793.
– April 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 654 Ocean Ave., Jersey City
– May 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at First United Methodist, 407 23rd Street, Union City
First-Sunday-of-the-Month Nature Walk upcoming
Enjoy early April out of doors by joining a free two-hour guided nature walk in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. Walk around parts of the park, looking for spring arrivals, bald eagles, and other birds. The walk starts at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 5 outside the Meadowlands Environment Center. Participants will have to sign a standard liability release that is good for events throughout the year. To register, call (201) 230-4983.