Dear Neighbors:
The Covid-19 Vaccine is currently being distributed in NJ to health care workers, police officers, firefighters, EMS and those over 65 years of age or ages 16-64 with underlying health issues. Supply is extremely limited, and it can be very challenging to obtain an appointment. Pre-registration will be required that will determine eligibility and vaccines will be by appointment only. Once pre-registered, as vaccine becomes available, an appointment can be made.
A vaccine distribution center for Bergen County residents is set up at the Annex Hospital at New Bridge Medical Center, located at 230 E. Ridgewood Avenue in Paramus. There is also a vaccine center at the Meadowlands Race Track. Both facilities will follow the same guidelines as to priority.
To register for the County, visit http://newbridgehealthorghttps://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.
To pre-register for the vaccine through the State, visit http://www.covidvaccine.nj.gov or https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19/meadowlands/. To receive regular updates and additional information regarding the vaccines, testing, contact tracing or travel, register your contact information at http://www.covid19.nj.gov.
For those without a computer, or those unable to use the on-line registration, a vaccine call center to assist individuals to pre-register for vaccine and make vaccine appointments with call agents is available. Call center hours of operation are 8am-8pm. The call center number is: 855-568-0545. This number should ONLY be used by people unable to utilize technology. The preferred method of obtaining information and registering is on the websites referenced above.
The two vaccines approved by the FDA are manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna. Both require two doses, Pfizer 21 days apart and up and Moderna 28 days apart. Both doses must be scheduled at the same time and the second dose of the vaccine will be reserved so vaccination can be completed. If you have concerns regarding taking the vaccine, please contact your personal physician.
The Borough of Upper Saddle River has no vaccines – distribution is being organized by the State. Please be patient and continue to follow all safety protocols until your vaccination is complete.
Upper Saddle River Police Department:
No one needs to feel useless in an emergency! Take the initiative to learn life-saving skills during the remainder of the winter months. First, learn how to do CPR, become skilled with an automated external defibrillator (AED), and learn the signs of a stroke. The American Heart Association offers numerous courses in these areas (website below). Second, learn how to use the contents of a bleeding control kit. These kits are popping up in various offices and schools and are often found in proximity to the AED. Go to the link below from “North American Rescue” and learn how to apply a C-A-T tourniquet for bleeding control. Purchase two; one for your office and one for your vehicle. After you acquire the necessary skill set, mentally rehearse each step involved in handling this type of emergency situation. 2020 showed us the importance of taking care of each other. As we move in 2021, let us continue that mindset by learning these valuable skills.
https://cpr.heart.org/en
If you should have any questions related to the information provided above, please feel free to contact Upper Saddle River Police Detective Captain Edward Kane. Detective Captain Kane is assigned as the department medical training coordinator. He has been an emergency medical technician for close to 30 years, is a certified CPR instructor and has been trained in tactical causality care.
The Woman’s Club 2021 Mega Raffle: The Woman’s Club is sponsoring our second Valentine’s Day Mega Raffle! Tickets are $25 each and will make great stocking stuffers and holiday gifts for friends and relatives. There will be a max of 500 tickets sold, so your odds of winning are much better than the lottery––and the prizes are great! $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000 to three lucky winners! The more tickets you buy, the more chances you have to win. Your donation goes to support our local USR First Responders, Graduation awards and scholarships, and other charitable causes that the Woman’s Club supports.
Everyone needs us in this difficult time, so please be generous and help us to help others!
Get your tickets from a Woman’s Club member that you know, or email nona.maher@gmail.com and send your check (made out to the Woman’s Club of USR) to P.O. Box 645 in Saddle River. With your check, let us know your name, address, phone, and email and your lucky tickets will be on the way to you ASAP! A handy form to use to order is available on our website at usrwomansclub.org
Tickets will be on sale until February 12th. The drawing will be on Sunday, February 14th at Noon at Borough Hall. Gift those you love with a chance to win big!
USR Recreation Baseball Registration Now Open: All registration is online. Go to www.usrbaseball.com and click the registration link. All Travel Players must register for Recreation Baseball. As with last year, to the extent the season does not take place, registration fees will be returned. We are always looking for coaches and volunteers. In order to coach, you must complete the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. course and the USR background check. Please note that girls are welcome to participate in all levels of the program and often play Mini Sluggers below and T-Ball (K and Jr-K).
Mini Sluggers Program: The USR Baseball Association is pleased to announce that we will be again running a Mini Sluggers program this year. This program is for girls and boys ages 3, 4 and 5 (not in K or Jr-K). This is an early learning program designed to develop and nurture the fundamentals and concepts of baseball and softball. The program will work on sports skills as well as life skills, emphasizing teamwork and sportsmanship. REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE SUNDAY, MARCH 7th.
The USR Girls Recreational Softball Sign-ups: It is time to register for the 2021 USR Rec softball season. Please visit our website register.usrrecsoftball.com. The registration will be open starting January 1st through March 1st. Should you have any questions or problems in the registration process please let us know. Registration is for girls in 1st grade through 8th grade. Practices and games will be held April, May and June. We will be having several clinics again this year for the girls in grades 1 and 2 which will be run by Challenge U. More details will follow once the dates and times of the clinics are confirmed. We are always looking for anyone interested in being a head coach or an assistant coach. In order to coach you must complete the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. course and the USR background check. We would also welcome anyone who would like to serve as a board member. Anyone interested please e-mail us at USRRecsoftball@gmail.com. Any questions, contact Rob Paglieri at 201-314-7628. You can also e-mail at USRRecSoftball@gmail.com.
USR Recreation Spring Tennis Clinics:
Registration for the Upper Saddle River Recreation spring tennis clinics are now being accepted. There will be two 5–week sessions to be held at the Wickersham Tennis Courts. The first session will be held on Mondays or Wednesdays beginning the week of March 15th with no lessons the week of school break. The second session will also be held on Mondays or Wednesdays starting the week of April 26th. During the second session, an adult group will take place at 7 pm. The cost for the entire 5-week session is $105. Visit our website to download an application at www.usrtoday.org. For more information, please call the USR Recreation Commission at 201-327-3634 or email USRRecreation@aol.com.
USR Tennis Permits Available for 2021:
Tennis permits for the use of the USR tennis courts, located on West Saddle River Road in front of Reynolds School, are available Borough Hall or at the Tennis Courts from Tennis Pro Sharron Mattiace. A family membership is $40.00 and an individual membership is priced at $25.00. All residents must have a permit and display permit on the sign-up board located at the entrance of the courts. For more information, please call the USR Recreation Department at 201-327-3634 or USRRecreation@aol.com. Visit the Borough website at www.USRtoday.org for information about all Recreation programs.
First Quarter Taxes Due February 1, 2021: The Tax Office wishes to remind residents that the first quarter 2021taxes are due on or before February 2021. Upper Saddle River offers a ten-day grace period. If taxes are paid by February 10, 2021, State law requires that interest is then due from February 1st to the date they are paid. Check or money orders only, no cash will be accepted. You can also pay taxes online; visit our website www.usrtodayorg for more information.
Did you get your 2021 Pet License? Upper Saddle River dogs and cats are due for their annual licenses. The new 2021 certificates and tags will be available at Borough Hall starting January 2021. Licenses are required for all dogs and cats that have had rabies shots. Proof of rabies immunization, which must be valid through the 10th month of the licensing year as required by the State of NJ, and proof of neutering/spaying (if applicable) are also required. USR basic licensing fee
for dogs is $15 and for cats $5. There is an additional charge of $3 for a non-neutered/spayed dog or cat. This fee is established by the State to help control the stray animal population. There is a $5 late fee for dogs and cats registered after February 15, 2021.
Upper Saddle River Library: The USR Library is now open. We offer contactless pickup, limited hours for in-person browsing, and now the ability to check out materials through an app on your mobile device. We also offer virtual programs for Adults, Children and Teens. Find library hours, programming for all ages and information on our website: www.uppersaddleriverlibrary.org and on social media.
USR Historical Society: You don’t want to miss USR’s Historical Society’s upcoming Hearthside
History Chats! Future monthly Hearthside Chats will entice you to spend a few moments to delve into USR’s rich and fascinating history. February’s fascinating Hearthside Chat on the Hidden History of the Architectural Styles of Homes in USR, will be held on Tuesday, February 23rd from 7:00-7:45 pm. Register via email to receive the Zoom link for these presentations at events@usrhistoricalsociety.org
Borough Food Drive: A drive-by, non-perishable food collection for The Center for Food Action will take place at Borough Hall (in the parking lot between the Police Dept. & Borough Hall) every Saturday in February and March unless it is snowing. Drop off while on your way to recycling or out doing errands from 8 am – noon every Saturday. While COVID restrictions are making donations more difficult, the need for food has never been greater. Soups, cereals, canned fish/meat, canned or boxed milk, beans, vegetables, pasta/rice, personal hygiene products, diapers, juices, peanut butter and jelly are suggestions.
Garbage & Recycling:
If your regular pickup is missed, call Borough Hall at 201-327-2196. You can leave a voice message with your address, or email info@usrtoday.org. Service may take longer than usual but it is ongoing as it’s a public health matter.
The Recycling Depot is open on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon.
DUE TO COVID, CLOTHING AND TEXTILES ARE NOT ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME.
USR GARBAGE AND RECYCLING COLLECTIONS – February 2021
Garbage: Every Monday & Thursday
Recycling:
West Side: Tuesday February 2 & 16
East Side: Tuesday February 9 & 23
NOTE: Must call by 10am the NEXT DAY to report missed Trash/Recycles.
Curbside White Goods: Thursday, February 4, 2021. Call 201-327-2196 x221 to schedule appointment for the appliance at LEAST three days prior.
Next Curbside Bulky Trash: Friday, March 19, 2021.
Mayor and Council Regular Meeting – Thursday, February 4, 2021
The next Mayor and Council Meeting will be held on February 4, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. The meeting will be held via teleconference (Zoom) and the necessary credentials to join the meeting are as follows:
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Computer: Link: https://zoom.us/j/842319706
Meeting ID: 842-319-706
Phone: 1-669-900-6833 or 1-877-853-5247
Then dial meeting ID (842-319-706) followed by #, then #, #9 to raise hand.
Joanne L. Minichetti – Mayor jminichetti@usrtoday.org
DeAnne DeFuccio – ddefuccio@usrtoday.org
Steven DiMartino – sdimartino@usrtoday.org
Jon Ditkoff – jditkoff@usrtoday.org
Vincent Durante, – vdurante@usrtoday.org
Joanne Florio, Council President – jflorio@usrtoday.org
Douglas Rotella – drotella@usrtoday.org