Blood drive to honor former Nutley resident Anne Rotunda

A blood drive in memory of Nutley resident Anne Rotonda will be held on Thursday, June 8.

The drive will be held at the Nutley Parks and Recreation Building, 44 Park Ave., Room 300, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Walk-ins will be accepted but appointments are recommended and will be taken before walk-ins. All safety precautions will be put in place to ensure the health and well-being of all donors and technicians.

Please do not donate if you are sick or may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Masks are optional. As always, donors must be between the ages of 16 and 76, weigh over 110 pounds and be in general good health.

Anne Rotonda, a longtime friend to many in Nutley, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in 2013. At that time, the Nutley Board of Commissioners held the first blood drive in Rotonda’s honor.

In 2017, she was re-diagnosed with the same disease, and in September of 2017 received a bone marrow transplant. Sadly, Anne lost her battle with cancer on Aug. 21, 2021, and as her memory continues to live forever in the hearts of many, the township will continue to honor Rotonda every year with this important, life-saving event.

If you would like to schedule an appointment, please visit the Vitalant New Jersey Donor Portal at cbsblood.org, or call 877-258-4825.

Donor Guidelines:

• All donors are required to wear a cloth based mask or face covering.

• Do not donate if you are sick.

• Donors should weigh at least 110 pounds.

• All donors must bring identification.

• Eat a meal before donation.

• Drink plenty of water before and after donating.

New Jersey as a whole is experiencing critically low donation numbers. There is an urgent need for Type O Negative, O Positive and B Negative Blood Types, but all types are welcome and needed.

Buckle up; crackdown on unbelted drivers

The state has begun a crackdown on people driving without seatbelts on.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety recently announced the start of New Jersey’s annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign. Grant funding from Highway Traffic Safety will be used to mobilize law enforcement agencies across the state to stop drivers and passengers who choose to not buckle up. The campaign will run through June 4.