Mayor Nicholas Sacco met with representatives from Lowe’s Home Improvement on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018 to personally thank them for building a storeroom for NB C.A.R.E.S. inside of town hall.

NB C.A.R.E.S. (Community Assistance Relief Events & Support) is an expansion of North Bergen’s Emergency Relief Program, which was created in response to a tragic fire in 2013. Over the years the program branched out into other avenues to help North Bergen residents in need. The program offers meals to the needy during the holiday season. NB C.A.R.E.S. works closely with the administrators of each school in town as well as school nurses and guidance counselors to make sure families are informed of the supplies and services we can provide to them and their children.

Working with an old boiler room, Lowe’s employees gutted and renovated the space, installing shelves, fixing concrete, leveling floors, painting, and more. All materials and labor were contributed at no cost to the township. The new space provides NB C.A.R.E.S. with a new facility in which to store supplies for its many programs and emergency relief efforts on behalf of North Bergen residents.

The project was part of the Lowe’s Heroes Project, with both the North Bergen and Jersey City stores generously contributing to the makeover, at an estimated total cost of $10,000.

The mission of Lowe’s Heroes Project is to transform lives one community at a time. The volunteer program began in Lowe’s more than 10 years ago. The program encourages employees in a location to team together, adopt a volunteer project with a local nonprofit organization or K–12 public school and make a difference.

Michael Rodriguez, 4th grader, scored a perfect 850 on New Jersey Department of Education’s Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) exams for both English and Mathematics.

Michael was the only student in the North Bergen school system to accomplish this feat. Five other students scored a perfect 850 on 1 of 2 exams.

The PARCC is a consortium of states that collaboratively developed a common set of assessments to measure student achievement and preparedness for college and careers. The exam’s assessments are aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and were created to measure students’ ability to apply their knowledge of concepts rather than memorizing facts.

Rodriguez’s score puts him in the top 8% of New Jersey students in English proficiency and top 15% in mathematics.

“I am pleasantly surprised and beyond proud of my son as he has always excelled in school and truly enjoys learning,” says proud mother Monica Leiva.

Michael started Pre-K in North Bergen in 2013 and has been in North Bergen education system ever since. If he’s not studying or reading, he’s with his younger sibilings creating games, playing Pokemon, or drawing comics.

We asked Michael what his future holds, “I want to be a scientist, not sure what kind yet.”

North Bergen’s fourth annual Halloween costume giveaway was once again a huge success, with the township giving out close to 500 costumes, far surpassing previous years. All of the children who attended the event on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 at the Recreation Center had a great time picking out their costumes for the year.

The event was coordinated by NB C.A.R.E.S. at the direction of Mayor Nicholas Sacco. Walmart of North Bergen generously provided a portion of the costumes that were distributed free to residents.

The North Bergen Housing Authority held a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month to celebrate the opening of new outdoor exercise gym in Meadowview Village. Located near the children’s playground on Meadowview Avenue, the gym contains eight pieces of outdoor exercise equipment that can accommodate up to 12 individuals at once.

The gym, which is geared toward adult-use, will be open daily from dawn to dusk. Located immediately adjacent to the playground, it allows parents and caregivers to utilize fitness equipment in a neighborhood where many residents would not otherwise have affordable access to a gym – all while keeping a close eye on their children in the playground just a few feet away.

The $20,000 cost of the project was the result of a grant secured by North Bergen Board of Health. The second component of the grant will be met this fall through the creation of monthly farmers markets which will be held in the same neighborhood.

The gym is located near senior housing, schools, and public transportation, as well as the 178 apartments in Meadowview Village, housing approximately 250 tenants. As part of the initiative to promote healthy living and fitness, residents will also be provided with a monthly newsletter offering information regarding use of equipment, disease prevention, nutritious recipes, and more.

The project was coordinated by Mayor Nicholas Sacco, Board of Health Director Janet Castro, Parks & Public Property Commissioner Hugo Cabrera, and NBHA Executive Director Gerald Sanzari.

Residents and visitors to North Bergen have recently been taking advantage of the township’s newest transportation alternative: bicycles for hire. Kiosks were installed at select locations around town in mid-July and the bikes were an immediate hit, with over 100 rentals in the first month.

Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Board of Commissioners initiated the bike share program in partnership with Hudson Bike Share, part of the single-membership JerseyBike system providing riders access to over 650 bicycles state-wide.

Launched in Hoboken in October of 2015, the program has since expanded in Hudson County to include Weehawken, West New York, Guttenberg, and Bayonne, as well as Port Imperial and Liberty State Park. Since its inception, Hudson Bike Share has provided over 450,000 rides to over 28,000 users.

The township supports the expansion of the Hudson Bike Share program into North Bergen as part of our continuing efforts to support a greener environment and provide alternative public transit options.

The initial bike share kiosks are located at the following locations:

• Town Hall at Kennedy Avenue and 43rd Street

• Applied Housing at Meadowview Avenue and 26th Street

• Braddock Park North at Bergenline Avenue near Kennedy Boulevard

• Braddock Park South at 79th Street and Boulevard East

• Waterfront Park at 7100 River Road

Riders can hire a bike for single rides or purchase an annual subscription. Details are available at http://www.hudsonbikeshare.com.

The Hudson County Fair is back for a fourth year, with spectacular attractions and entertainment for the whole family. Taking place in Braddock Park across from the brand new statue of James J. Braddock on Riverview Drive, the fair has expanded to two full weekends of carnival rides, games, food, live entertainment, a petting zoo, and more.

The carnival held a soft opening on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, but really kicks into high gear with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. Then the fun continues every day straight through to Columbus Day on Oct. 8, 2018.

Weekends and holidays the fair opens at noon, weekdays at 6 p.m. Live bands including The Nerds, The Koots, and the Matt O’Ree Band will perform on the big stage.

Rudolph “Rudy” F. Klima, 92, of North Bergen, NJ, passed away on Wednesday, September 19, 2018. Born in Guttenberg, NJ on November 13, 1925, to the late Adele and Frank Klima.

He worked for 43 years as a Chief Stock Manager for PSE&G. Co. in Edison N.J. retiring in 1990. Rudolph belonged to the American Legion Post 33 of North Bergen, was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus Standford Assembly (North Bergen)., VFW McDowell post 2648 (North Bergen) and Past President of Homestead Senior citizens of North Bergen for the past 20 years.

He was a veteran of the Marine Corps and served his country during WWII. Rudolph was the loving father of Rudy and the late Joseph Klima. Survivors include two adoring grandchildren, Bryan and James and the late Joseph.

Rudolph’s life celebration will include visitation on Monday, September 24, from 5 ~ 9 PM at the Leber Funeral Home, 2000 Kennedy Blvd, Union City, NJ.

A Funeral Mass will be offered on Tuesday, September 25, beginning at 10:30 AM at St. Rocco R.C.C., 4206 Kennedy Blvd., Union City. Friends and family may begin gathering at 9:00 Monday morning before services. Rudolph will be laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery (Fairview NJ.)

For further information and to share a fond memory, please visit http://www.leber-fh.com

The new state-of-the-art school opened this week and was dedicated this afternoon to retiring Hudson County Schools of Technology Superintendent Frank J. Gargiulo.

“I am humbled by the decision to dedicate this campus in my name,” he said in a statement. “These students are among the brightest in the country and deserve a quality space to study and prepare themselves academically for the future.”

With over fifty years in education as both instructor and administrator, Mr. Gargiulo has continually implemented cutting edge technology to ensure student success and real-world preparation at all levels.

At the high school level, Mr. Gargiulo’s vision and passion helped create High Tech High School and County Prep High School, schools that are continually recognized for their academic excellence. High Tech High School is a National Blue Ribbon School; both schools are designated by Newsweek and US News & World Report as two of America’s Best High Schools.

Beyond the classroom, Mr. Gargiulo is a dedicated member of the community. He has served as First Lieutenant in the US Army and as President of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools. Mr. Gargiulo currently serves as the President of the Hudson County Superintendents Organization, as well as Commissioner of the Department of Public Works for the Township of North Bergen. Mr. Gargiulo earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master’s Degree from Seton Hall University.

NB C.A.R.E.S. in conjunction with the Nicholas J. Sacco Foundation and the Township of North Bergen held their annual back-to-school drive in August, distributing thousands of school supplies to local children on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018.

The giveaway is held each year shortly before school starts, with residents invited to the Recreation Center to pick up free school supplies. Kids get to choose their own backpack, and fill it themselves with pens, pencils, markers, folders, notebooks, and much more. Uniforms were also provided.

Mayor Nicholas Sacco and Park and Public Property Commissioner Hugo Cabrera were in attendence to greet the hundreds of residents who lined up to prepare for the school year.

The event was largely funded by grants and donations such as the contributions made by CrossCountry Mortgage, Eye Contact Vision Center, Women of the Moose, and other local businesses and organizations.

Present at the giveaway to provide free children’s book and other items were volunteers from the Frank A. Pinto Foundation. Sanitas Medical Center was also on site, providing free blood pressure and glucose checks and goodie bags.

NB C.A.R.E.S. was prepared to provide school supplies to more than 400 families this year. Anything left over at the end of the event was presented to the schools for distribution.