Tag: Community

North Bergen holds 4th Annual Palestinian Flag-Raising

On By Mackensie AlvarezIn North Bergen Community News & Events

A large crowd of residents turned out to celebrate the 4th annual Palestinian flag-raising in North Bergen, on Friday, April 12, 2019.

Mayor Nicholas Sacco greeted the celebrants inside the Municipal Chambers, where Certificates of Recognition for their dedication and support to the community were given to long-time resident and member of the NHEIC Mosques women’s committee, Muna Razeq, and posthumously to Mohammed Ali Al-Hanooti, a respected Sheikh (religious leader) in the community who achieved the prestigious rank of Mufti in Washington.

Also receiving a certificate was Amel H. Fael, who sang the National Anthem at the event.

North Bergen, with its robust Arab Muslim community, was the second municipality in New Jersey to host a Palestinian flag-raising. Guest speaker, dancers and singers performed inside the chambers before everyone retired outside to raise the flag over town hall. Commissioners Hugo Cabrera and Julio Marenco were present to show their support, along with Freeholder Anthony Vainieri.

North Bergen DPW Unveils New Violations Trucks, 'Broom & Barrel' Program to Keep Township Streets Clean

On By Mackensie AlvarezIn Uncategorized

The township’s Department of Public Works recently began two new initiatives designed to keep the community cleaner than ever before. Under the leadership of Mayor Nicholas Sacco and Commissioner Frank Gargiulo, the DPW purchased three new violations trucks that are now accompanying the department’s street sweepers on their daily routes. Through a partnership with the North Bergen Parking Authority, the trucks are being used to enforce street cleaning parking rules as well as to carry additional cleaning equipment and to pick up bulk items left on curbs by residents.

In addition, last month the DPW began a new “Broom & Barrel” cleaning program designed to tidy up North Bergen streets. Six part-time employees have been hired to staff the program, which involves sweeping heavily trafficked commercial areas like Bergenline Avenue, Broadway and Kennedy Boulevard. Crews are also working to clean areas near township schools after dismissal, and are available for spot work in residential areas when issues are reported by residents.

“Protecting our quality of life is always a priority for our entire team, so I’m glad to see the Department of Public Works offer these new programs that are making our streets and sidewalks cleaner than ever,” said Mayor Sacco.

Two of the new violations trucks were paid for by Clean Communities grant funding, saving North Bergen taxpayers $50,000.

“We can count on our hardworking DPW employees to do whatever they can to keep our streets clean, and I commend our DPW Director John Shaw and his team for always doing an excellent job keeping North Bergen clean,” said Commissioner Gargiulo.

North Bergen Library Awarded H.W. Wilson Library Staff Development Grant

On By Mackensie AlvarezIn North Bergen Community News & Events

The North Bergen Free Public Library is the 2019 winner of the prestigious H.W. Wilson Library Staff Development Grant. The award is presented annually to a library organization whose application demonstrates greatest merit for a program of staff development designed to further the goals and objectives of the library organization.

The H.W. Wilson Library Staff Development Grant is an annual award consisting of $3,500 and a 24k gold-framed citation given to a library organization whose application demonstrates greatest merit for a program of staff development designed to further the goals and objectives of the library organization.

An announcement from the American Library Association reads as follows: “The North Bergen Free Public Library is committed to promoting lifelong learning and providing ease of access to resources for their community. They serve a densely populated urban area which is culturally and economically diverse, leading to a proven need for social services along with ESL and ELL services.

“The award jury was impressed by the library’s multi-pronged approach to addressing the needs of their community through the training of their staff. With the award, the library plans on addressing multiple areas of service to meet the needs of the many immigrants who call North Bergen home, along with addressing the needs of the community’s underserved population.”

The H.W. Wilson Library Staff Development Grant will be presented at the ALA Award Ceremony and Reception on Sunday, June 23, 2019 at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

Aimee Focaraccio Honored as One of Hudson County’s ‘Visionary Women’

On By Mackensie AlvarezIn North Bergen Community News & Events

Aimee Focaraccio, the coordinator of NB C.A.R.E.S., was the recipient of a highly prestigious honor when she received the North Bergen Woman Breaking Barriers Award on Tuesday, Mar. 19 at the historic Brennan Courthouse in Jersey City. Focaraccio was one of 13 “Visionary Women” honored at the county’s annual Women’s History Month celebration and award ceremony.

Amy DeGise, chair of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, presented the award to Focaraccio for her tremendous service to the local community, and read an impressive list of her accomplishments, including running NB C.A.R.E.S. for the past six years, coordinating North Bergen’s giveaways, drives, and events, and running the township’s relief center to assist fire victims and others.

Among the other recipients of the award was Guttenberg’s Rose Gunther, who just celebrated her 100th birthday and is still managing various real estate properties. She was presented with the Guttenberg Trailblazer of the Year Award by Guttenberg Mayor Wayne Zitt.

A large crowd of local officials, friends, family, and supporters attended the ceremony on Tuesday, Mar. 19 and gave standing ovations to the recipients. Some of the presenters included Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise, Freeholders Caridad Rodriguez and Anthony Romano, and Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner. Undersheriff Francine Shelton served as emcee.

38th & 40th Streets to Become One-Way on March 15th

On By Mackensie AlvarezIn North Bergen Community News & Events

The North Bergen Police Department, in coordination with the Department of Public Works, is changing 38th and 40th Streets from two-way to one-way thoroughfares on Friday, Mar. 15, 2019.

In order to improve traffic flow, 38th Street will be one way eastbound from Liberty Avenue to Grand Avenue, and 40th Street will be one way eastbound from Liberty Avenue to Grand Avenue.

These changes will improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety in these areas.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact the North Bergen Police Traffic Division at (201) 392-2135.

HCCC Students Tour NBPD Headquarters and Learn About Police Work Firsthand

On By Mackensie AlvarezIn Emergencies and police, fire, and EMT news.

Police Chief Robert Dowd and members of the North Bergen Police Department met on Tuesday, Mar. 5, 2019 with students from Hudson County Community College to discuss various aspects of law enforcement and to tour the NBPD headquarters.

Professor Richard Walker brought 18 students from his Ethics & Criminal Justice class to get some firsthand exposure to police work. Chief Dowd kicked off the visit with an in-depth presentation on the challenges and responsibilities the officers face on a daily basis, followed by a Q&A session in which the students posed numerous tough and thoughtful questions.

One of the highlights for the students was the tour of the facility, led by Lt. Thomas Ferrari and Sgt. Anthony Caramucci. The visit took the students through the cells, the property/evidence room, the CCTV monitoring room, the detective bureau, and more, introducing them to different officers along the way, who explained the details of their jobs and experiences, providing valuable information and insights about real-life police operations.

Public Hearing on Application to the Green Acres Land Acquisition & Park Development Program

On By Mackensie AlvarezIn North Bergen Community News & Events

The Mayor and Board of Commissioners of the Township of North Bergen will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at 5:00 P.M. during the regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting.

The purpose of the hearing is to obtain public comment on a grant application to be submitted by the Township of North Bergen to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Land Acquisition and Park Development Program.

This application proposes construction of the North Bergen Recreation Center located at 1231 John F. Kennedy Blvd in North Bergen, New Jersey. The meeting will take place in Township Hall Council Chambers, located at 4233 John F. Kennedy Blvd, North Bergen, NJ 07047.

The Director of the Department of Recreation will make a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer period. All residents are encouraged to attend and participate.

Town Honors Doctor Who Saved Resident’s Life

On By Mackensie AlvarezIn North Bergen Community News & Events

Mayor Nicholas Sacco presented a plaque to local chiropractor Dr. Gerard Busacco on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019 for helping to save the life of a North Bergen Housing Authority (NBHA) resident who had collapsed in her apartment.

Dr. Busacco has been visiting weekly with NBHA seniors since 2000 in a program initiated by Mayor Sacco and NBHA Executive Director Gerald Sanzari. When one of his regular attendees, 72-year-old Patrica Witzki, did not show up for a late January session at the Terrace Apartments, Dr. Busacco took notice and decided to look into it.

“We called her apartment several times but received no answer, so Leroy, the supervisor of maintenance, and I went up to her room and went in,” said Dr. Busacco. “She was lying face-down and unresponsive.”

Dr. Busacco quickly put a pillow under her head and had Leroy call 911. Holding her hand until EMTs arrived, Dr. Busacco spoke to Witzki the whole time, then explained her medical history to the paramedics, who transported her to Palisades Medical Center.

“When I spoke with the doctors there, they told me she would not have survived if I hadn’t had made it to her when I did,” Dr. Busacco said. “I have to thank the mayor and the North Bergen Housing Authority for making this program possible.”

“When you manage senior buildings, and we have four of them, there’s sometimes a very different ending than the one we had here, and we’re so glad this was able to have a happy ending,” said Sanzari. “For Gerry Busacco to make that stop to check on her, it’s not something everyone would think of.”

“We’re happy you showed the initiative that you did when you noticed a missing person from the group,” said Mayor Sacco. “All of North Bergen thanks you for what you did.”

Witzki was released from the hospital on Feb. 20. Her daughter is due to give birth to Witzki’s first grandchild in March.

Residents Remember Nevaeh Hernandez at ‘Walk to End-Fluenza’

On By Mackensie AlvarezIn North Bergen Community News & Events

A large group of volunteers and supporters braved the snowstorm on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019 to gather at lakeside in Braddock Park and observe a moment of silence at 10:41, the time when Nevaeh Hernandez “became an angel,” in her grandmother’s words. The group then walked around the perimeter of the frozen lake.

Nevaeh’s mom, Stephanie Conteron, and grandmother Sandra Rivera joined forces with Rebecca Hendricks from the End-Fluenza Project to hold the remembrance event on the one-year anniversary of Nevaeh’s passing. The six-year-old North Bergen kindergartner contracted the H1N1 strain of flu during the 2018 outbreak. Her relatives, many of whom work in healthcare, planned the remembrance walk to honor her memory and to raise awareness of the vital importance of vaccinating children.

Hendricks founded the End-Fluenza Project after her own daughter, Scarlet, died from the flu in 2014. In addition to sponsoring walks, she regularly visits elementary schools to give talks to raise awareness of the dangers of the flu and the importance of hygiene in preventing the spread of disease.

The “Remember Nevaeh” event received strong support from the local medical community and the co-workers, friends, and family of Nevaeh’s parents. EMS and police vehicles and personnel from North Bergen and West New York participated, along with representatives from the North Bergen Health Department and North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC), who provided free flu vaccines to attendees.

After the walk the participants convened in the North Bergen Nutrition Center, where a raffle raised money for the End-Fluenza Project. Then, as a DJ played, everyone sat down to share a delicious meal cooked and donated by supporters and attendees.

For more information on the End-Fluenza Project, visit http://www.endfluenzaproject.org.

New park opening & renovations happening in town

On By Mackensie AlvarezIn North Bergen Community News & Events

A long awaited new public park on Paterson Plank Road is now scheduled to be built this spring as part of a total revitalization of the area. Alongside the planned Hudson Mews development – a luxury residential complex that is currently under construction – the park will dramatically improve the neighborhood. Township officials negotiated an agreement with the developer of the adjacent residential complex to assist in building the park, saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in construction costs.

Below are some of the great improvements coming soon to North Bergen parks:

New Downtown Park on Paterson Plank Road

Children’s spray park, playgrounds with rubberized surfaces for 2-12 year-olds, two sets of swings, new decorative lighting, several parking spaces, benches and passive areas and more.

28th Street Park
Repairing walkway adjacent to the park from Grand Avenue to the footbridge over 495
Construction begins: summer 2019

Policeman’s 38th Street Memorial ParkChildren’s spray park, playgrounds with rubberized surfaces, swing sets, basketball court, dog runAnticipated completion: July 4, 2019

43rd Street ParkUpdated basketball courtConstruction begins: spring 2019

64th Street Softball Field
Synthetic turf, new LED field lighting, new bleachers, dugouts with bullpen attached

Anticipated completion: late spring 2019

88th Street Park
Updated basketball court
Construction begins: spring 2019

North Bergen Pool
Updated basketball and volleyball courts, pool replastering
Anticipated completion: Memorial Day 2019