‘Field Station: Dinosaurs’ meet and greet at library; jobs available
Staff from “Field Station: Dinosaurs,” the new family attraction scheduled to open in the Meadowlands on May 26, will host a “meet and greet” at Secaucus Library on March 12 at 7 p.m. Making a special appearance will be the highly interactive 15-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex. Staff will discuss job opportunities with local residents.
Executive Producer Guy Gsell said, “We’re not just looking for employees, because the Field Station is more than just a job. We’re a school, we’re a camp, and we’re your neighbors. We want people who are ready to learn, ready to have fun, and ready to share with others. From what I’ve seen, that describes a lot of people in Secaucus.”
For more information contact Jayme Powers, vice president and chief operating officer, powers@fieldstationdinosaurs.com or Erica Jacobson, marketing director, jacobson@fieldstationdinosaurs.com, (973) 748-4561.
Multiple Sclerosis Hudson County self-help group meeting
The next meeting of the recently formed Multiple Sclerosis Hudson County Self-Help Group will be held Mar. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Secaucus Public Library. This month’s speaker is from the NJ Library for Braille & Talking Books. The purpose of this self-help group is to allow members to connect with others who either have Multiple Sclerosis, have a family member who has MS, or are a caregiver or friend. The meetings are open and informal. The agenda each month will include open group discussions and networking, or a speaker on a relevant topic for those within the MS family.
Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Upcoming meeting topics are scheduled for: March 13 – NJ Library for Braille & Talking Books, April 10 is open, and May and June meetings will feature different medical speakers from Ampara and EMD Selerno (Rebif). The group members determine the content and direction of the future agendas. All are welcome to the next meeting. For more information, contact Janice Rittberg: (201) 714-8418.
Some of your dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise will go to help MS
Cheeseburger in Paradise, together with Firefighters 4 MS, will sponsor a dine-in night on Mar. 3 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Twenty percent of the total will be donated to the New Jersey Metro Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Diners must bring the event flyer to get fundraising credit, which can be downloaded from: www.firefighters4ms.org.
Cheeseburger in Paradise is located at 700 Plaza Drive, Secaucus. For further information, please contact Kevin at 201-320-0100 or email at chefkev21@comcast.net.
Blood drive at Secaucus Masonic Lodge 72
The Secaucus Masonic Lodge 72 located at 1422 Paterson Plank Road will sponsor a blood drive on Mar. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call Community Blood Services at: (201) 251-3703. All blood types are needed, especially Types 0- and 0+.
The event includes free breakfast for all donors. Any healthy individual, age 17 through 75 (16 with parental permission) who weighs at least 110 pounds, can donate blood. Donors should eat a moderate meal before donating and must bring identification showing signature.
All donors receive a complimentary non-fasting cholesterol and glucose screening with every blood donation.
Rep. Rothman announces $5M HIV Emergency Relief for Hudson County
Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, last week released a statement announcing $5 million in federal HIV Emergency Relief that will go to Hudson County.
“I am proud to announce the Department of Health and Human Services HIV Emergency Relief Project Grant of $5 million for Hudson County,” the congressman said. “These funds will improve care for low income and underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS. Every federal dollar that is brought back for important local projects like this one is one less dollar that the already overburdened local taxpayers have to take out of their pocket.”
Pascrell calls upon Gov. Christie to reinstate funding for women’s health care
Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-Paterson) last week called upon Gov. Chris Christie to reinstate $7.4 million women’s health care services that had been eliminated in the state budget. In a letter to Christie, Pascrell said, “This important funding, $7.4 million of which was eliminated in your budget for FY 2011, provided much needed services for women and men throughout New Jersey. These crucial services included birth control, prevention and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), breast cancer screenings, and pap exam.”
He added, “In 2009 alone, the funding in question provided preventive health services for over 136,000 patients, including over 70,000 breast exams and 65,000 pap tests. Due to the cuts in the state’s budget, family planning health centers have been forced to close across the state, or otherwise suspend services. For example, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey had to cease offering pre-natal services at its Paterson center at the end of 2010, limiting access to care.
“By withdrawing the state’s application last year to expand its Medicaid program to women looking for family planning opportunities, New Jersey lost an important opportunity to bridge the gap in these services.”
Secaucus-based Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) said last month that restoring funding for women’s health care is a top priority. He is the chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee.
Pascrell is currently in a heated primary battle for the 9th District against Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn). The clash is the result of redistricting, as the U.S. Census forced portions of Congressional Districts 5, 8, and 9 to combine into two districts. Secaucus and Kearny are the only Hudson County municipalities in the new 9th Congressional District.
Blood drive volunteers needed
NJ Blood Services, which supplies blood products and services to 60 hospitals throughout the state, is in need of volunteers to work blood drives. The blood service volunteer is an integral member of the collection team whose task it is to assist donors with registration, escorting and canteen duties, and to watch for post donation reactions.
Volunteers should have the ability to relate to the public, be able to perform different jobs as needed, and have the willingness to follow the rules. For additional information contact, Manager of Community Relations, R. Jan Zepka at: (732) 616-8741 or email: rzepka@nybloodcenter.org.