SDA sophomore named 2019 Miss Colleen; Horizon Health closing a site | Journal Entries – NJ.com

SDA sophomore named 2019 Miss Colleen

Saint Dominic Academy sophomore Megan Dunne, of Kearny, has been named the 2019 Miss Colleen by the Saint Patrick’s Day Committee of Jersey City. Dunne received her sash at the Honorees Investiture held at Saint Patrick’s Church in Jersey City on Feb. 20. Her first official appearance as Miss Colleen was Friday, March 1 at the Jersey City Irish Flag Raising at City Hall.

On Wednesday, March 6, Megan attended the Hudson County Irish Flag Raising at the Brennan Courthouse. She and the other 11 honorees attended the Parade Committee Honorees Awards Dinner on Friday, March 8 at The Atrium at Harborside Financial Center. On Sunday, March 10 prior to the parade, Dunne participated in the Captain Michael Flynn Hullings Jersey City Firefighters Memorial Walk Wreath Laying. Her activities continue as she participates in the Det. Michael Santiago JCPD Memorial Walk Wreath Laying and the JCPD Det. Marc. A. DiNardo St. Patrick’s Day One Block Parade, both on Friday, March 15.

Landlord charge forces Horizon Health to close site

Due to a recent change in ownership of the property upon which the Bergen Ave. Horizon Health Center has been located for the past 50 years at the request of the new develop/owner, Horizon Health Center Inc. has been forced to close its Bergen Avenue site on March 31, located at 706-714 Bergen Ave, Jersey City. They will continue to serve clients’ medical needs at their Christopher Columbus Location.

Alliance Community Healthcare’s patients will be able to continue their care at the other Jersey City location, at 115 Christopher Columbus Drive, 1st Floor. Alliance will offer transport services to patients in Bergen Hill communities and surrounding neighborhoods, who may need assistance with transport getting to the 115 Christopher Columbus Ave. location. The same doctors will be available for continued care.

For those who wish to retrieve medical records, call 201-209-2319 or log on to the Alliance Community Healthcare website at: www.allianceCH.org and click on Patient Portal tab and signing in with your password to securely access your health record.

Roundtable discussion focuses on oral health

Metropolitan Family Health Network and Horizon BCBSNJ recently led a roundtable discussion on the importance of good oral health for both mothers-to-be and their soon-to-be born children. The roundtable was followed by a tour of the facility’s Obstetrics and Dental services.

Metropolitan Family Health Network’s new program, “Oh Baby, What Great Teeth You’ll Have,” was made to educate mothers-to-be about how poor oral care during pregnancy can impact not only their own overall physical health, but also the birth and subsequent oral health of their babies. The program was awarded a $62,500 grant from Horizon BCBSNJ through the Kids Oral Health Program, a two-year initiative of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey to fight dental disease among children in pockets of the state where the need is most acute.

Explore Middle School hosts Olympian and fashion designer

Explore Middle School recently hosted United States Olympian Gail Marquis and former Ebony Fashion Fair Commentator Audrey Smaltz at a Black History Month Celebration on Thursday, Feb. 28. An opening reception took place at 9 a.m. with the program following. The students recited “I Have Been to the Mountaintop” and performed musical numbers. Also in attendance were Acting Superintendent Amy Lin-Rodriguez and Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise.

Students graduate; make dean’s list

The following Jersey City residents recently graduated from the New York Institute of Technology: Manisha Chandra, Priyanka Vishwanath Mahantashettar, Yash Babubhai Kheni, Rishika Nakul Shah, Ruchita Rajesh Mistry, Abhinav Moturi, Ankit Arora, Arun Kumaresan Sarasam, Dhruva Choudhary Jampani, Feral Jitendrakumar Patel, Gunjan Ravindra Shete, Hitarth Bhatt, Maulik Trivedi, Shivani Tarunkumar Patel, Shreya Motilal Kahar, Bhavikkumar Bharatbhai Patel, Niravkumar Patel, Shivkumar Devegowda, Aldrich Vincent Christopher, Jaymin Shah, Bhavinbhai Ganeshbhai Lakhani, and Abhimanyu Arjunbhai Patil.

Yessica Marleny Moronta of Jersey City received a Masters of Science degree in occupational therapy from Clarkson University on Dec. 15, 2018.

The following Jersey City residents were recently named to the Dean’s List of Seton Hall University for the Fall 2018 semester: Wadalla Abogabl, Rochelle Ann Acebedo, Abdulrafay Amir, Nicole Boodhoo, Iulian Cernatinschi, Marlene Da Cruz, Jayvee Dacasin, Mariangelica Decastro, Massarath Fatima, Karissa Mae Gabot, Sherry George, Jeffrey Heredia, Rhania Kamel, Atithan Kingsawat, Karima Laidoui, Geraldine Ligon, Justin Melendez, Muhammed Mirza, Kamille Moise, Michael Pardal, Ashen Quiambao, Mikayla Reilly, Maylin Rivera, Jason Santos, Mohamed Shedeed, Sebastian Valbuena, and Sarah Villarin.

The following Jersey City residents were recently named to the Dean’s List at University of Sciences for the Fall 2018 semester: Gretchen Casingal, Mohamed Elhakeem, and Mowda Fadl.

The following local residents were recently named to the Dean’s List at Boston University for the Fall 2018 semester: Melitza Cuellar, Rachelle S. Hegarty, Tapan Patel, and Runsheng Wang, all of Jersey City, and Christine Jimenes of Bayonne.

Community organization launches eco-ambassador program

Local community organization Sustainable Jersey City (SJC) has refreshed its flagship education program to include new learning modules in Holistic Approaches to Life & Work, Green Infrastructure, Energy Efficiency, Waste Streams and Permaculture, for residents and businesses. CEUs may be available from the US Building Council.

Nine instructors from the region will teach the 10-week course that starts on Monday March 18, with consecutive Monday evenings, ending May 20. Each Monday night session takes place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Hudson County Community College, 70 Sip Ave, Jersey City.

For more details and to Register for the Certificate Program In Urban Sustainability visit SJC’s Event page on their website: https://www.sustainablejc.org/events/2019/3/18/sjc-certificate-program-in-urban-sustainability-spring-2019.

HCCC to host seventh annual Mardi Gras fundraiser

The HCCC Foundation North Hudson Scholarship Committee hosted a Mardi Gras Celebration Fundraiser with a tricky tray and a buffet on March 7. Dishes were provided by more than 12 restaurants in the area. Proceeds from the event provide scholarships to deserving Hudson County Community College (HCCC) students from Guttenberg, Hoboken, North Bergen, Secaucus, Union City, Weehawken, and West New York.

Saint Peter’s University honors two of its past members

Saint Peter’s University plans to honor two members of the University community at “Hearts & Minds: The Saint Peter’s University Scholarship Celebration” on May 3 at the Mac Mahon Student Center. Niurka “Nikki” E. Mederos ’07, ’10 will be presented with the Service to Community Award and Eugene T. Paolino, Esq. ’69 will be presented with the Professional Achievement Award. “Hearts & Minds” celebrates integrity, leadership and service to others with proceeds supporting the University’s General Scholarship Fund.

Mederos is the director of the external affairs/outreach community at Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen. She has organized dozens of community health fairs and health screenings for thousands of members from the community. Mederos received her bachelor of professional studies from Saint Peter’s University in 2007.

Paolino is a partner at the law firm of Genova Burns LLC with offices in Newark and Jersey City, specializing in commercial real estate transactions and redevelopment law. A Jersey City native, he has practiced law throughout New Jersey for more than four decades, working on numerous projects in Jersey City and played a role in obtaining government approvals and financing real estate projects along New Jersey’s Hudson River “Gold Coast,” in Journal Square and elsewhere in Jersey City.

HCCC names new VP for human resources

Hudson County Community College President Dr. Chris Reber announced that Anna Krupitskiy has been named Vice President for Human Resources, a new leadership position at the College. Krupitskiy began working in her new role on March 1.

Krupitskiy was born in Ukraine and emigrated to the United States when she was a child. She earned Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration degrees from Pace University. She also holds a Master of Law degree from University of Essex in the United Kingdom, and a Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School. She served as Director of Faculty Appointments at City University of New York, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) since 2015.

Catholic War Veterans recognize Bayonne youths

State Commander Michael Embrich announces that the Catholic War Veterans Youth Service Award will be presented to Bayonne students Anthony Rubino and Natalie Ramos. The award recognizes students who display a commitment to their studies and to public service.

Rubino, a Junior at Bayonne High School, has served in the Bayonne Police Explorer Program since 2015, where he has accumulated over 200 hours of community service. In July of 2018, Anthony was promoted to Sargent, and he acts as a leader and mentor to other Police Explorers. He has completed the third phase of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Explorer Academy where he received first place in Marksmanship, second place in Arrest & Search Techniques, and placed in Motor Vehicle Stops, Burglary in Progress, and Motor Vehicle Investigation.

Ramos, an eighth-grade student at Nicholas Oresko School, is part of the Gifted and Talented Program as an inventor where she invented a device that stops chemicals and trash from entering waterways. She volunteers her time at the Liberty Science Center, the Bayonne Soup Kitchen, and her CCD Program. She also served as a mentor in “The 100 Book Challenge,” which encourages good reading habits among children in the school district. She has also been a Girl Scout for 6 years, where she’s earned over 90 Junior Ranger Badges from the National Park Service, National History Parks, and National Battlefields.

Non-profit prepares for Autism Awareness Month

With Autism Awareness Month approaching this April, “Colors for Autism” is preparing several events for the month. The non-profit organization has been running a fundraising street fair for four consecutive years in downtown Jersey City with the goal of raising awareness, education, and donations for research and to help find a cure along with ways of helping families to get aide for their children who may be diagnosed with autism.

The following events are taking place this April: Light it up Blue (April 1). The event will give 20 families of 3 a chance to win a free brunch at the Hard Grove Café. Colors of Autism Dinner Party (April 18). A fundraiser dinner by Colors of Autism at The Ashford on the Newark Ave. Pedestrian Plaza from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Smile Preschool & Nursery or Everbrite. Brunch at the Hard Grove Café (April 25).

The 20 families of 3 will win a brunch at Colors of Autism’s 1st Annual Autism Family Brunch from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the Hard Grove Café.

HCCC welcomes associate dean of STEM

Hudson County Community College has named Dr. Burl Yearwood the College’s Associate Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Dr. Yearwood earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Alabama, and Ph.D. in Organometallic Chemistry from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.

He conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Kentucky. A member of the American Chemical Society, his interests have included the examination of the preparation of precursors for the production of semi-conductors, as well as the combination of chemicals in marine paints. Dr. Yearwood’s current research involves the analysis of environmental toxins in Newtown Creek River, a federal Superfund site located in Long Island City, NY.