THIS IS ONLY A TEST – Bayonne firefighters joined police and firefighters from six counties in a disaster drill for three days during the end of April.
Training for the unthinkable
From April 25 through the 28, Bayonne firefighters along with firefighters and police officers from six area counties participated in a high profile UASI (Urban Area Security Initiative) disaster drill. Hosted at the Newark Fire Department training grounds, emergency workers gathered to practice and respond to a host of emergency props designed to test and perfect the special operations skills of area Metro Strike Teams. The Bayonne Fire Department is equipped with a specialized rescue rig and tools issued through UASI funds, and the firefighters are uniquely trained to deal with high level rescues. Over a period of four days, firefighters practiced rescuing mock victims from overturned and crushed vehicles and rail cars. Collapsed concrete and steel, dirt piles, and fabricated tunnels served as additional simulations for a challenging rescue. The firefighters worked for hours, honing techniques and skills relevant to collapse and infrastructure.
The Metro USAR Strike Team is made up of nine fire departments from Bayonne, Elizabeth, Hackensack, Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, and Morristown, as well as the five-municipality North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Agency. Members also include New Jersey Transit, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officers. The team’s full quantity reaches approximately 500 members. The nine departments are drawn from the six counties (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic and Union) and two cities (Jersey City and Newark) participating in New Jersey’s Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).
Operated regionally with oversight from the State Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the UASI program is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and designed to help protect the country’s urban areas most prone to a potential terrorist attack.
”Our firefighters here in Bayonne have achieved great benefits from these federally funded projects and drills, especially since the cost associated with these events are out of the reach of most municipalities,” said Bayonne Fire Chief Greg Rogers. “The technical skills that are learned stay with our firefighters, and serve to better protect our citizens.”
Dine Out to support Pulaski Parade Committee
A Dine Out with the Pulaski Parade Committee will be held at Nuova Venezia Italian Restaurant, 342 Broadway, on Thursday, May 12, from noon to 10 p.m. Lunch, dinner, and beverages will be available for purchase, and 20 percent of the day’s proceeds will be donated to the Parade Committee.
The mission of Girl Scouting is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scout troops in Bayonne meet in local schools and churches, and meetings are scheduled for after school and evenings. Girl Scouts program helps girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls bonding together. Troops meet and plan trips, as well as conduct community service projects, go camping, and have fun. The program helps girls develop to their fullest individual potential and relate to others while increasing understanding, skills, and respect. The girls learn life long values to guide them as they grow. Prospective volunteers will be screened and trained as they work with other leaders to accomplish the program's goals. Volunteering as a Girl Scout Leader is a rewarding experience that helps the youth and society, as well as those who volunteer.
For more information on volunteering as a Girl Scout Leader, call (20) 858-2296.
Three Hudson County projects get state preservation grants
Gov. Christopher Christie announced that three projects in Hudson County are among the 58 historic sites recommended for 2010 Historic Preservation Grants by the New Jersey Historic Trust, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
Paulis Hook Park and the West Bergen Historic District, both in Jersey City, will receive $50,000 each towards their prevention work. The Hudson Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse, also in Jersey City, will receive $250,000.
The list of recommended projects was scheduled to go before the Garden State Preservation Trust on May 4 for ratification and then move on to the N.J. Legislature for approval.
“The Historic Trust continues to make great strides in preserving New Jersey’s important cultural and historic sites,” said Christie. “These grant awards are indicative of our comprehensive efforts to grow the Garden State economy by spurring investment, generating jobs, and attracting tourism opportunities to these areas.”
The New Jersey Historic Trust administers the grants from the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund. The Trust Fund was created to promote historic preservation and encourage joint preservation efforts by the public and private sectors. It funds both capital projects and planning projects for historic preservation across the state.
For more information on the New Jersey Historic Trust, call (609) 984-0473, or log on to http://www.njht.org/.
Assisted living resident rights bill is signed into law
Legislation sponsored by senators Richard J. Codey (D- 27th Dist.) and Sandra Bolden Cunningham (D-31st Dist.) that would establish assisted living facility and comprehensive personal care home resident rights has been signed into law by Governor Christopher Christie.
“Sadly, we see far too many seniors become victims because no one has informed them of their rights, or in some cases, rights have not been established for them. At a time when more seniors are living in settings other than nursing homes, it is crucial that we ensure they are given full protection under the law,” said Codey.
“Our seniors should be treated with respect and equal protection under the law. Yet we see millions of them every year sustaining injuries or being exploited by the very individuals they have entrusted to care for them. That must end, and this law will be a big step in doing so,” said Cunningham.
The law (S-2458) will require assisted living facilities and comprehensive personal care homes to distribute a statement of resident rights to each resident, and post it in a conspicuous, public place in the facility. Additionally, it will require providers to inform each resident, the resident’s family member, and the resident’s legally appointed guardian of the resident’s rights, provide explanations if needed, and ensure that each resident, or the resident’s legally appointed guardian, as applicable, signs a copy of the statement of rights.
The law will also establish various other rights for every resident of an assisted living facility or comprehensive personal care home that is licensed in the state. These include: receiving personalized services and care in accordance with the resident’s individualized general service or health service plan; receiving a level of care and services that addresses the resident’s changing physical and psychosocial status; have or not to have families’ and friends’ participation in resident service planning and implementation; receiving pain management as needed, in accordance with the Department of Health and Senior Services regulations; and receive written documentation that fee increases based on a higher level of care are based on reassessment of the resident and in accordance with department regulations.
Post a Comment