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Blossoming Bowlers 3

Mayor Derek Armstead, the City of Linden, and the Department of Parks & Recreation are pleased to offer Blossoming Bowlers 3, in cooperation with the Linden Police Department. Let’s “strike up some fun,” and celebrate family bowling at Jersey Lanes! Registration required.

Click here to view and/or download the informational flyer for this event.

  • Who: Free bowling outing for all Union County special needs families.
  • What: Blossoming Bowlers 3, Let’s “strike up some fun,” and celebrate family bowling at Jersey Lanes! This program is funded by the NJ Department of Community Affairs ROID Grant (Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities). Each participant can bring family members for music, food, and fun. Students that are sensitive to noise, please bring headsets as there will be a DJ present.
  • Where: Jersey Lanes, which is located at 30 Park Avenue.
  • When: Saturday, October 26 from 12pm until 2pm.
  • How: Registration required. Click here to register. Each participant can bring family members for music, food, and fun. Students that are sensitive to noise, please bring headsets as there will be a DJ present. For more information, email here or call (908) 474-8600.

September Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Ovarian cancer is one of the most serious cancers affecting women today, with more than 200,000 women diagnosed annually worldwide and over 150,000 succumbing to the disease each year. Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen, making early diagnosis difficult and treatment less effective, resulting in lower survival rates. Increased awareness and education about the symptoms, risk factors, and the importance of early detection can significantly improve the chances of successful treatment and survival. Research and advancements in the prevention, detection, and treatment of ovarian cancer are crucial in reducing the impact of this devastating disease on women and their families. Support for women and their families who are affected by ovarian cancer is essential in helping them navigate their diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship journey. During this month, we recognize the strength and courage of those battling ovarian cancer, honor the lives of those lost, and renew our commitment to supporting research, awareness, and improved healthcare outcomes for all women.

September 11 Memorial Ceremony

Mayor Derek Armstead, Council President Michele Yamakaitis and the City of Linden invite you to attend the 2024 September 11 Memorial Ceremony with the Linden Police and Fire Departments.

Click here to view and/or download the informational flyer for this event.

  • Where: Wanda Green Park, Mack Place (Mack Place is located in the Eighth Ward off of Grier Avenue).
  • When: Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 6:30pm.

For more information, please contact Council President Michele Yamakaitis at (908) 494-0880.

Mark Ritacco Obituary & Funeral Information

Mayor Derek Armstead and Linden City Council regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Mark Ritacco, the City’s Construction Code Official and Zoning Board Officer. Mark died on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at his home. Mark Ritacco was a loving and passionate man and will live on in the hearts of those who know him.

Visitation will be at the Biondi Funeral Home of Nutley on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 from 3pm until 6:30pm. A funeral service will follow at 6:30pm. The cremation will be held privately.

Mark was a lifelong resident of Nutley before moving to Manahawkin in 1995. Mark graduated from Nutley High School, class of 1979, and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1983. He was the owner of Mark Ritacco Plumbing & Heating for the past 20 years.

Mark is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years Susan (nee Bunk) Ritacco; his devoted children Frank Ritacco and his wife Elizabeth, Gina Sicilia and her husband Joseph, and Juli Ritacco. Mark was recently made a grandfather to his cherished granddaughter Marina Jane Ritacco.

In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by his loving siblings Joy Maschi and her husband Augie, Deborah Petrillo, and Frank Ritacco. Mark is also survived by his many loving nieces and nephews. Mark is predeceased by his parents Frank and Joyce (nee Cofone) Ritacco and his brother James DiRuggiero.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Pl. Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

Wine & Cheese Art Expo Fundraiser

Mayor Derek Armstead and the Mayor’s Youth Commission Scholarship Committee invite you to attend the Wine and Cheese Art Expo Fundraiser featuring the stunning artwork of Enrique from Parede Art LLC.

Click here to view and/or download the informational flyer for this event.

  • What: A Wine and Cheese Art Expo Fundraiser. The event will kick off with a delightful wine and cheese tasting followed by live jazz and blues performances. We are also excited to offer non-alcoholic juice tastings generously donated by Sunpower Juice, located at 239 West St. George’s Avenue.
  • Where: Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade which is located at 400 North Wood Avenue.
  • When: Friday September 20, 2024
    • Wine and Cheese Tasting from 5:30pm until 7:30pm.
    • Live Jazz and Blues Performances starting at 7:30pm
  • How: Tickets are $35 per person. To Purchase tickets or from more information, please contact Danie Orelien at 908-403-3880, Sandra Jackson at 908-494-9138 or Rosalind Pearson at 908-816-7801.

2024 Community Impact Festival

Mayor Derek Armstead, the City of Linden, the Department of Parks & Recreation and Communities In Cooperation Inc. present the Community Impact Festival!

Click here to view and/or download the informational flyer for this event.

  • Who: Fun for all ages.
  • What: Community Impact Festival with local artists and entertainment, including features LHS Madrigals, Marching Band, free food, career fair workshops, mind-body wellness activities, community resources, games and prizes. face painting, and convenient DMV services from 10am until 2pm.
  • Where: Woodrow Wilson Memorial Pond Park (1100-1198 Summit Terrace).
  • When: Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 11:30am until 4pm.
    • Rain Date: September 8, 2024.
    • Please note: DMV services will proceed as scheduled on September 7, from 10am until 2pm, rain or shine.
  • How: Free event. Bring your own chairs. No drugs or alcohol permitted! Click here to register. For further information call 908-445-4745 or 908-290-2107, or email here.

Linden Police to Participate in End of Summer Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Enforcement Campaign

During the Labor Day holiday period, including the end of summertime and the busy holiday weekend, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be working alongside the law enforcement community in Linden to decrease impaired driving. From August 16 through September 2, the Linden Police Department will be participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement period. In support of the law enforcement community’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you’ll see officers working together during this time to take drunk drivers off the roads. No matter how you plan to celebrate the end of summer this year, make sure you plan to do it safely.

According to NHTSA, 13,384 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2021 — that’s one person every 39 minutes. On average, more than 11,000 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes each year from 2017 to 2021. This is why the Linden Police Department is working together with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal; it’s a matter of life and death. As you head out to festivities during the end of summer and Labor Day weekend, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.  
 
“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Police Chief David Hart. “The Drive Sober campaign is an awareness effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it takes lives. Let’s make this a partnership between law enforcement and drivers: Help us protect the community and put an end to this senseless behavior,” he said.
   
During the 2021 Labor Day holiday period, there were 531 crash fatalities nationwide. Of these fatalities, 41% (216) involved a drunk driver, and more than a quarter (27%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday period in 2021, 488% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher. There are plenty of options to help impaired drivers get home safely, such as designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or rideshare. If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact law enforcement immediately.  
 
No one should mix drinking and driving, and no one is immune to the effects of drinking. If you find yourself drunk and stranded with your vehicle, give your keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you home. Remind your friends to never get into a vehicle with a drunk driver. If you have a friend who is about to drive after drinking, take away their keys and help them get home safely. Most importantly: Always have a plan before you head out for the evening. If you wait until after you’ve been drinking to figure out how to get from one place to the next, you will already be too impaired to make the right choice.  
 
Click here for more information on impaired driving.

Backpack Giveaway

Mayor Derek Armstead in collaboration with the Mayor’s Youth Commission, Communities in Cooperation, Inc, and the Linden Department of Parks and Recreation present Backpack Giveaway!

  • Who: For Linden residents. Must show proof of linden address/residency. Linden health department and multilingual staff will be on hand to help families navigate and complete school paperwork.
  • What: Backpack Giveaway. Promoting and encouraging a violent free school year for all students! Sign up for a free linden library card! Free children’s activities! Live music entertainment featuring DJ Drewski and Zeddy Will during the event!
  • When: August 19, 2024 from 5pm until 8pm.
  • Where: School #1, which is located at 729 North Wood Avenue. Enter parking lot on Gibbons Street.
  • How: For Linden residents! Must show proof of linden address/residency.

Weather Alert – Flooding

A unique combination of a slow moving cold front and the remnants of hurricane Debby are increasing the chance of major flooding impacting many parts of New Jersey this week.  Tropical moisture is surging into the region today and tomorrow, leading to moderate to heavy rainfall and flooding from strong thunderstorms.  The rainfall and flash flooding potential for today and tomorrow is concerning by itself, and can lead to 2 to 5 inches of rain, but the impact of additional moisture from the remnants of Debby will further affect the area on Friday into Saturday. Grounds will likely be saturated and rivers/creeks/streams will likely be running high. Please take the necessary precautions to be safe during this storm.

NJSACOP Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment

Click here to view and/or download the NJSACOP Accreditation Assessment Invites Public Comment News Release.

A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) will examine all aspects of the Linden Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services on Thursday, August 15, 2024, Chief David Hart announced today.

“Verification by the assessment team that the Linden Police Department meets the Commission’s “best practice” standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” Chief Hart said.

As part of this final on-site assessment, employees and members of the general public are invited to provide comments to the assessment team. They may do so by telephone or email. The public may call 908-200-9251 on Thursday, August 15, 2024 between the hours of 10am and 11am. Email comments can be sent here.

Telephone comments are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards.  Please contact Sergeant Leon Paster at 908-474-8557 for information about the standards.

Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the Linden Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation is requested to contact the Accreditation Program Director by email here, or write the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12 Marlton, N.J. 08053.

The Linden Police Department must comply with NJSACOP LEAP standards in order to achieve accredited status. Chief Hart indicated, “Accreditation results in greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy, and more confidence in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and respond to community needs.”

The Accreditation Program Director for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police is Mr. Harry J Delgado, Ed.S. “The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar New Jersey law enforcement agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview agency members, and visit offices and other places where compliance with the standards can be observed. Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status,” Harry J Delgado stated.

Accreditation is valid for a three-year (3) period during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to their continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited. 

The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police through its New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission is the legitimate authority and accreditation agency in the state of New Jersey. For more information regarding the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission please write the Commission at New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12 Marlton, N.J. 08053 or email here.