Route 3 bridge lane closures cause severe delays
Parts of the Route 3 East Bridge over the Hackensack River, which is traveled by about 75,000 motorists per day and serves as a vital approach to the Lincoln Tunnel, were closed this week by the state Department of Transportation (DOT) after cracks were found in its steel support structure. The closures caused severe traffic backups.
Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto said on Thursday, Jan. 22 that the closing of one of the state’s busiest bridges for emergency repair work is further evidence of the need to find a long term revenue solution to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund. ”The Route 3 Bridge is not the first piece of our crumbling infrastructure to fail, and if our state doesn’t do something about our transportation funding crisis soon then it certainly won’t be the last,” he said. “The costs of lost productivity and aggravation for drivers over the next few weeks while emergency repairs are being conducted is the price our state is paying for its inability to solve this problem. I am hopeful that the bridge closure will at least provide continued impetus to show both our elected leaders and our residents that increasing transportation funding is in our vital economic interests and must be accomplished in the near future.”
The lane closures are expected to last for at least two weeks while emergency repairs are made, and come on the heels of two other bridges within the state being closed for deteriorating conditions. More than 500 bridges in New Jersey are considered structurally deficient or functionally obsolete by the DOT.
Independent film series resumes at the library on Sunday, Jan. 25
The second year of the Friends of the Secaucus Public Library independent film series kicks off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25. The 2015 film series, which is open to all residents, will begin with a showing of “The Way Way Back” a 2013 comedy starring Steve Carell and Toni Collette. Following the movie, Friends’ president Zinnia Miller will lead an open discussion of the film.
“Our intention in hosting an independent film series is to give adults in our community a monthly opportunity to see smaller-budget independent movies that they might have missed in wide-screen release or that might not have played locally,” Miller explained. “We also wanted to provide a chance for movie-lovers to talk about these films with other viewers. As an avid book club participant, I wanted to create a similar club using award-winning and well-received independent films, rather than books, to generate discussion.”
The film screening and discussion will take place in the Panasonic Meeting Room on the second floor of the Secaucus Public Library, 1379 Paterson Plank Rd. Popcorn and other light refreshments will be served. “While Friends of the Library programs are open to all residents,” said Library Director Jenifer May, “we urge parents and caregivers to keep in mind that many of the films shown contain adult themes and may not be appropriate for children and young adults.”
May also noted that the Friends of the Library would be holding a brief General Membership Meeting immediately prior to the screening, starting at 1 p.m. The meeting is open to all, but registered Friends of the Library members are especially encouraged to attend in order to participate in planning Friends programming for the year ahead.
Registration for each film is recommended, and can be done by calling the library at (201) 330-2083 or registering through the library’s online calendar at secaucuslibrary.org.
Laughter Therapy Group to start at the Secaucus Public Library on Jan. 27
The Secaucus Public Library will be hosting a weekly laughter therapy group starting Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 10:30 a.m. The meetings are free and open to all adults.
According to Vani Bolusani, who is organizing and leading the group, the purpose of the half-hour weekly meeting is to encourage attendees to laugh as part of a group in order to channel the potential health benefits of laughter. “There is a growing body of research that shows that laughter, even when it is done as a planned exercise, may have significant health benefits. Laughter therapy can help to eliminate depression, improve blood circulation, reduce belly fat, reduce blood pressure, improve a person’s immune system, improve digestion and even decrease sugar levels. As a certified yoga instructor, I hope to lead the class with both humor and instruction in other laughter exercise techniques.”
Library Director Jenifer May added, “The library is really happy to have this opportunity to work with Ms. Bolusani to launch its first six-week laughter therapy program. We hope that lots of adults in our community will take time out of their schedules to add a little laughter to their Tuesday mornings.”
Registration is highly recommended, but walk-ins are also welcome. Call (201) 330-2083 x4011 to register, or register online at secaucuslibrary.org.
Free citizenship application help available on Jan. 31
We Are One New Jersey will host a Citizenship/DACA clinic on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 830 Bergen Ave. Jersey City. They will provide pro-bono lawyers to assist people with their citizenship and deferred action applications at no cost.
Priority will be given to those with an appointment. To reserve your spot now, call (201) 209-2839 or email info@weareonenj.org.
Documents you must bring with you, if you have them, include:
• Legal Permanent Resident card (Green Card)
• Driver’s license or other identification with photo
• Social Security card
• List of all your places of residency over the past five years and the dates you lived in each place of residency
• List of all employers and their addresses over the last five years and the dates of employment
• List of all travel outside the U.S. since the date you obtained your Green Card, including destinations and dates of travel
• Current and expired passports, and travel itineraries/boarding passes (if you have them)
• List with the complete names, dates of birth, home addresses, and Alien Number (if applicable) of all children
• Copy of each child’s birth certificate (if available)
• Certified court disposition and arrest report from police (if applicable)
• Most recent tax return
If you are seeking U.S. citizenship based on marriage, please bring:
• All marriage and divorce certificates
• Proof that your spouse has been a Legal Permanent Resident for at least three years
• Proof that you and your spouse share the same address (bank statements, etc.)
• Lease agreements or mortgages and tax returns of the past three years
• Court order authorizing name change (if you have changed your name through the courts)
Valentine’s Day Breakfast Fundraiser is Feb. 8
The Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Secaucus Exempt Firemen’s Association will hold their 5th annual Valentine’s Day Breakfast Fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 8. Donations raised will be used to remember retired firemen in the New Jersey Firemen’s Home in Boonton and continue the organization’s endeavors throughout the Secaucus community.
The Ladies’ Auxiliary has been a part of the Secaucus Fire Department since Oct. 3, 1934. The members participate in community events and fundraisers throughout the year. They send annual donations to the Secaucus Emergency Fund and to retired firefighters who now reside at the Boonton home, and volunteer their assistance during other community fundraisers throughout the year.
Please come out on Sunday, Feb. 8 between 8 a.m. and noon to support their efforts. The Valentine’s Breakfast takes place at the Senior Center, 101 Centre Ave. The cost for adults is $10, children under 12 and seniors $5. For tickets or information call Alexis Leppin at (201) 723-5521 or Vickie Cieciuch at (201) 388-1058.
Free breast cancer support group for Latina Women
To support Latina patients and survivors with breast cancer, Jersey City Medical Center – Barnabas Health and Curémonos, a community-based organization, will hold a “Let’s Talk/Let’s Learn” support group in Spanish at the Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center, 377 Jersey Ave. on the Jersey City Medical Center campus from 4 to 5 p.m. on February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, and June 11.
Attendees will have the opportunity to share information on coping with such issues as treatment side effects, improving communication with doctors and family, and regaining self-esteem, and to meet the hospital’s new bilingual oncology nurse navigator Michelle Ashley.
“A breast cancer diagnosis is an experience that changes your life and fills you with fear. Coping can be especially difficult if doctors don’t speak your language, or you don’t have family nearby to support you,” said Dora E. Arias, founder and executive director of Curémonos, which was created to provide education, support, and advocacy to medically-underserved women with breast health concerns or a breast cancer diagnosis. “With the support of Jersey City Medical Center – Barnabas Health and program sponsor Genentech, we are offering Latina women a setting where they can share their fears, questions, suggestions and successes both during and after treatment.”
“For more than a year, the hospital has held, and will continue to hold, a very successful support group for English-speaking breast cancer patients to share their experiences and feelings,” said Dr. Julie DiGioia, medical director of the Cristie Kerr Women’s Center. “Thanks to our partners, we can now offer a similar opportunity to members of the community who are undergoing many of the same experiences but speak primarily Spanish.”
The English speaking support group will meet from 5 to 6 p.m. on the same dates at the Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center.
The program is free and refreshments will be served. To register, call Vivian Rohrsetzer at (201) 915-2000 x 4855.
11th Annual Guma Foundation ‘Casino Night’ coming on Feb. 28
The Guma Foundation will host its 11th annual Casino Night on Saturday, Feb. 28 at LaReggia’s Restaurant in the Meadowlands Plaza Hotel, 40 Wood Ave. Proceeds will benefit The Tomorrows Children’s Fund and children with brain tumors. Tickets to the event, which starts at 7 p.m., are $100 per person and entitle the bearer to an evening of casino-style gaming with casino chips, live music performed by “The Fez,” open bar and buffet, and prizes too numerous to list, according to Pat Guma, president of The Guma Foundation. Attire is business casual with jacket optional.
Youngsters with brain tumors are the main recipients of donations from The Guma Foundation, which honors the lives of the late Ralph Guma Sr. and Ralph Guma Jr. Diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of nine, Ralph Guma Jr. survived to age 33, attended local schools and earned a college degree.
The fundraising organization’s mission began in 1991with the awarding of the RMG Scholarship that resulted in more than $30,000 over the years being given to deserving high school graduates to help defray the costs of their post-high school educations.
“The Guma Foundation eventually changed its mission and we redirected our energies,” said Pat Guma. “As a result, to date we have contributed over $100,000 to the Tomorrows Children’s Fund at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC). With my sons and the support of family and friends, we have committed the Foundation’s efforts to providing at least $10,000 annually to the Tomorrows Children’s Fund. In addition, since 2000, The Guma Foundation has donated more than another $10,000 directly to the families of sick children to help support the youngsters’ needs and fulfill some of their dreams.”
The Guma Foundation is a registered not-for-profit organization. To purchase tickets and pay online, or for further information about the Foundation, visit its website at www.gumafoundationinc.org.
Be part of the second annual EarthFest Overpeck
Hackensack Riverkeeper and the Bergen County Department of Parks have announced the date of the Second Annual EarthFest Overpeck. This year’s event takes place on Saturday, April 25 at Overpeck County Park and will build on its inaugural year, which drew a crowd of thousands. A wide mix of activities is planned including a festival midway featuring environmental nonprofits; green vendors, animal rescue groups and healthy-living advocates; children’s activities; an assemblage of food trucks, each featuring distinct fare; beer garden; live entertainment; free paddling courtesy of Hackensack Riverkeeper, and a Recycled Regatta (featuring boats made from trash).
Hackensack Riverkeeper is seeking sponsors, vendors, and Regatta entrants. Sponsors can expect maximum exposure through a variety of attractive promotional packages, and vendors are projected to see double the foot traffic from last year.
Recycled Regatta participants will compete for prizes in boats constructed completely from recycled materials in an eye-catching competition atop Overpeck Creek, drawing attention to the issue of recycling. For details, e-mail Mary Knight (mary@hackensackriverkeeper.org) or call (201) 968-0808.
Founded in 1997 by Captain Bill Sheehan, Hackensack Riverkeeper is the leading environmental organization working on Hackensack River issues. A founding member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, the group engages in a four-point clean water strategy (action, advocacy, education, and litigation) in its ongoing work to protect, preserve, and restore the Hackensack River from its headwaters in Rockland County, New York to Newark Bay.