The North Bergen School District held eighth grade graduation ceremonies on July 14. Beginning at 9 a.m. at Bruins Stadium inside James J. Braddock Park in North Bergen.

They were in-person ceremonies even as many districts in the county opted for hybrid ceremonies, including a drive-thru graduation in Bayonne.

North Bergen is the only district in the state to hold in-person seated ceremonies.

Rewarded with onsite experience 

“This was an extremely difficult school year for our students, especially our seniors and 8th graders,” said North Bergen Schools Superintendent Dr. George Solter. “Our students had had to adapt very quickly to a completely new learning environment, and overall I’m extremely proud of how well they handled this very unique situation. The ceremonies allow our students to regain a sense of normalcy during very abnormal times. I commend them all for their perseverance and hard work and wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavors.”

The graduations were divided into four ceremonies. First Horace Mann School at 9 a.m.; Lincoln and Franklin Schools at 11 a.m.; Robert Fulton School at 1 p.m.; and Kennedy and McKinley Schools and Robert Fulton Annex at 3 p.m.

Students walked in and sit with their parents, at least six feet away from their fellow classmates and their families. Face masks were required.

“I thought it was crucial to hold an in-person ceremony for our graduating classes,” said North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco. “Our children deserved a proper recognition for excelling during very difficult circumstances, and what better way to celebrate than with their classmates and parents in person. I congratulate each and everyone of them for a truly remarkable job.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

As New Jersey continues with Phase 2 of reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, municipal parks have began to reopen. North Bergen reopened its municipal parks on July 2 and is adding a new park.

On July 9, the Township of North Bergen held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the much-awaited new downtown park on Paterson Plank Road. Overlooking the Meadowlands, the new park is in part an effort to revitalize this area.

Mayor Nicholas Sacco cut the ribbon officially opening the $1.2 million park. Funding for the park included $500K from Hudson County Open Space and $220K from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

The township negotiated with Hudson Mews, the new housing project next door, to assist in site preparation and building, saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in construction costs.

The new park contains many great features for kids and adults, including a spray park with water spraying from columns and up from the ground

The park features two playgrounds with rubberized surfaces for 2-5 and 5-12 year-olds, two sets of tot swings, new decorative lighting, and a gazebo with two benches.

Additional benches, receptacles, and parking spaces, including handicapped spots, have been added.

Joining Mayor Sacco in cutting the ribbon and opening the park were Parks Commissioner Hugo Cabrera, Finance Commissioner Julio Marenco, Public Safety Commissioner Allen Pascual, Freeholder Anthony Vainieri, Township Administrator Chris Pianese, Police Chief Peter Fasilis, Parking Authority Executive Director Robert Baselice, and other local and county officials.

The architect was Remington & Vernick Engineers The  builder was Picerno-Giordano Construction.

Construction is about to begin on the new community center and library nearby. A completely renovated park will open next week on 38th Street.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 school year has been drastically affected. Graduation ceremonies, normally a moment of relief and celebration, have been curtailed, and their substitutes differ from each municipality to the next.

Since guidelines did not allow for in-person ceremonies until late June, many municipalities went forward with virtual or drive-thru graduations. In North Bergen, the township waited and rewarded its graduates with an in-person graduation ceremony, albeit far from the usual celebration.

In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, the North Bergen High School graduation took place in four socially-distanced installments inside Bruin Stadium. The first two installments took place at 9 a.m. and noon on Wednesday, July 8 and Thursday, July 9.

NBHS Principal Richard Locricchio offered the opening remarks and presented the graduating class to the Board of Education. With the students and their families seated in appropriate social distance from their neighbors, Mayor Nicholas Sacco spoke to the crowd about the difficult year they just experienced and the promise of the years ahead.

Schools Superintendent Dr. George Solter shared his congratulations and best wishes with the students and introduced this year’s Valedictorian, Michelle Cazoria, who spoke via a prerecorded video segment. Also addressing his fellow graduates via prerecorded video was Salutatorian Ludwin Chavez, who was introduced by Director of Curriculum and Instruction Allen Pascual.

Overall, the ceremony was orderly and efficient, with social distance maintained and everyone wearing masks. In total, well over 500 students are graduating this year, with dozens of them in the National Honor Society.

The graduates each received a diploma and many posed for photos before exiting the field. Afterward, township employees thoroughly disinfected and cleaned the entire area in preparation for the next event.

The first day’s graduates included homerooms 040, 302, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 312, and STEM. Thursday’s graduates consisted of homerooms 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, and 322.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

As Gov. Phil Murphy continues to lift restrictions, he has announced that spray parks and playgrounds can reopen.

The township of North Bergen will reopen municipal parks to the public on July 2. This includes all playgrounds, sports courts, and exercise equipment located in the parks.

Spray parks will open at 25 percent capacity. Attendants will be on hand to ensure that capacity is not exceeded.

Policeman’s Park on 38th Street has undergone a complete overhaul and will reopen in July with new features. The township will open a new park on Paterson Plank Road within the next few weeks.

Parks will be open from dawn to sundown. Residents are urged to maintain social distancing for their own health and the health of others.

James Braddock Park has been open for some time.

Other reopenings coming in July

Museums, aquariums, and certain indoor entertainment venues, including bowling alleys, batting cages, shooting ranges, and the arcades along the boardwalks will open at 25 percent capacity on July 2.

Indoor entertainment venues such as movie theaters, performing arts centers, concert venues, and nightclubs will remain closed.

Gyms and fitness centers will remain closed, although individual training sessions are allowed by appointment.

Murphy cancelled the reopening of indoor dining indefinitely after COVID-19 spiked in other states, driven, in part, by the return of indoor dining.

The governor’s order also prohibits the consumption of food or beverages and smoking in the indoor premises of any retail, recreational, or entertainment business, including casinos, where masks are required. There is an exception for health and safety, such as as individuals briefly removing their masks to drink water.

“Unfortunately, the spike in cases in numerous other states, compounded by instances of noncompliance in New Jersey, require us to hit pause on the restart of indoor dining indefinitely,” Murphy said.

“I recognize that there are many establishments whose owners, managers, and customers have been responsible, but we cannot move forward unless there is complete compliance,” said. “Throughout every step of our restart, we have been clear that we would not hesitate to hit pause to safeguard public health, and this is one of those times.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

Despite New Jersey entering Phase 2 of reopening amid COVID-19, the state is still in no condition to hold in-person elections. To cope with the issue, months ago Gov. Phil Murphy moved the June primary election to July 7 in preparation.

The election is also poised to be held primarily through vote by mail. To ensure the safety of ballots, North Bergen is going the extra mile.

The township has installed a secure drop box outside town hall for the convenience of residents who would like to submit their primary election ballots. The drop box is on the side of the building, next to the Municipal Chambers entrance.

Every registered New Jersey voter, Democrat or Republican, should receive a ballot in the mail for the July 7 primary. All ballots come with prepaid postage. Ballots can be mailed by the deadline or deposited in the drop box at town hall.

The deadline to deposit ballots in the drop box is 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7. The drop box is monitored 24 hours a day by video surveillance to maintain strict security.

For questions or more information, call the Hudson County Board of Elections at 201-369-3435.

Sacco says vote Column B

Mayor Nicholas Sacco and his mail-in ballot.

Mayor Nicholas Sacco said most residents should have already received their Vote by Mail ballots for the Primary Election. Due to COVID-19, all registered Democrats and Republicans have been sent ballots, and most voting will be done by mail.

“I’m asking for your support for the Column B Democratic Team, especially our Freeholder Anthony Vainieri,” Sacco said. “From revitalizing our beloved Braddock Park, to providing county funding for many important projects to helping us keep property taxes stable, Anthony is doing a tremendous job and he deserves our support for a new term.”

Sacco has endorsed the Column B Team, including Joe Biden for President, Cory Booker for Senate, Albio Sires for Congress and Anthony Vainieri for Freeholder.

“All ballots must be received by the County Clerk by July 7 to be counted, so send yours back now,” Sacco said. “In order to cast your vote, fill out your choices on the ballot and make sure to fill the ovals in completely. Put your completed ballot in the small envelope.”

According to Sacco, residents must print their names and addresses and sign on the designated area on the envelope and follow all other instructions.

Then, residents must put the smaller envelope inside the larger paid envelope, seal it and mail it back, Sacco said. No postage is necessary.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.