BELLEVILLE POST
ESSEXNEWSDAILY.COM
Yoga with blossoms
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Vaccines in Belleville
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MAY 2021
VOL. 35 NO. 49
Virtual session gives information about Essex–Hudson Greenway By Amanda Valentovic Staff Writer Members of the Bloomfield Township Council and Essex County Board of County Commissioners held a meeting about the proposed Essex–Hudson Greenway project on April 14, updating residents about the 9-mile park that could run through Essex and Hudson counties. The park would be built on an unused freight train rail line owned by Norfolk Southern, which runs through eight towns: Bloomfield, Montclair, Glen Ridge, Belleville, Newark, Kearny, Secaucus and Jersey City. Partnering with the counties is the Open Space Institute, the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition, and the September 11 National Memorial Trail. “All of these towns seem to not have enough green space,” County Commissioner Carlos Pomares said at the meeting. “The opportunity to preserve a little bit more is always a very welcome sight. Not only will there be green space, but the ability to connect with other locations. If we don’t take the opportunity to jump on it now, it may not come around again.” Essex and Hudson counties are among
Debra Kagan from the Open Space Institute speaks about the proposed Essex–Hudson Greenway project on April 14. the most populated counties in New Jersey; Debra Kagan of the NJBWC said there is currently nothing like the proposed park in either county. “It creates this kind of opportunity to create a green public space where people
can not only bike and walk, but also can join their neighbors in a park space,” she said. “It would provide transportation alternatives, meaning this is a safe place to have biking and walking to commute See PROJECT, Page 3
Honoring Belleville establishes its first internet our veterans exchange safety zone, monitored by PD
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The township of Belleville has established a safe area for residents to complete purchases and swaps made through websites such as Craigslist and Recycler. The area in front of Town Hall, 152 Washington Ave. in Belleville, has been designated as an internet exchange safety zone intended for residents to use to complete online transactions safely. The walkway leading to the entrance of the Belleville Police Department and
Town Hall on the northside of the building will be monitored by cameras 24 hours a day. “This is important because so many of us are making online purchases these days,” said Councilman Vinny Cozzarelli, who spearheaded the creation of the internet exchange safety zone. “This is a safe and convenient alternative to completing transactions with strangers at your front door.” Signs have been posted on police head-
quarters to direct residents to the area. No appointment is necessary to use the meetup area. “The members of the Belleville Police Department support this area because it’s just another way to keep the residents of Belleville safe,” police Chief Mark Minichini said. “We have seen this program work effectively in other municipalities, and we’re happy to offer it to our residents, too.”