Clark Seniors Enjoy St. Patrick's Day Themed Gathering

Clark Senior Citizens enjoyed an early St. Patrick's Day celebration as part of their monthly senior meeting at Clark Recreation.  The room was green and full of festive fun thanks to Recreation Director Ralph Bernardo.  

If you are a Clark senior citizen, the group meets the first Thursday of each month in the cafeteria of the Recreation center.  All are welcome.  For more information, please call 732-428-8400 or email rbernardo@ourclark.com

Clark Township Recognized as a 2024 Healthy Town to Watch

The New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute has designated Clark Township as a 2024 “Healthy Town to Watch,” an honor that highlights the township’s continued commitment to community health and wellness. Moving up from its previous status as a “Healthy Town Up-and-Coming,” Clark has expanded partnerships with Atlantic Health, Med Mobile, and local organizations to provide health screenings, mental health awareness, and chronic disease prevention programs. In 2024, Clark introduced new initiatives such as the Sister Cities Collaboration and Welcome Baby Event while also enhancing its recreation and wellness offerings for residents of all ages.

“Clark is very fortunate to have an amazing team that works tirelessly for our residents and employees, initiating various programs to improve everyone's health and well-being, said Mayor Angel Albanese. We look forward to continuing our recreational activities, events, and community initiatives and are excited to be introducing new programs in the upcoming year.”

The Mayors Wellness Campaign (MWC), a program of the Quality Institute in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, recognizes communities across New Jersey for their efforts to improve health and wellness. The 2024 campaign saw a record-breaking thirty-two municipalities earn the Healthy Town designation, with another sixteen designated as a “Healthy Town to Watch” and seven as a “Healthy Town Up-and-Coming.”

"It’s incredible to see the MWC Healthy Town designations keep growing year after year. It’s proof that New Jersey’s community leaders aren’t just talking about health and wellness; they’re making it," said Mike Cerra, Executive Director of the New Jersey League of Municipalities. "From small towns to big cities, these leaders are showing up for their residents and building healthier, more vibrant communities."

Each year, communities participating in the MWC complete a comprehensive Healthy Town application outlining their research on local health needs and their efforts to organize wellness initiatives. The application also highlights actions taken to make these communities healthier places to live, work, age, and play.

Join the Rahway River Cleanup for Earth Day 

Volunteers are invited to celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up the Rahway River at Union County’s Rahway River Park on Saturday, April 26 (rain date: April 27). The event, hosted by the Union County Board of County Commissioners, Rahway River Watershed Association, and local organizations, will focus on areas upstream and downstream of the Winfield Park Dam, spanning Winfield Park, Cranford, Clark, Linden, and Rahway.

Check-in at 8:45 AM near the Bloodgood Dam waterfall to receive supplies, safety info, and assignments. Cleanup runs from 9 AM to 12 PM, but any time you can contribute is appreciated. Volunteers should wear long sleeves, jeans, gloves, and boots. Bring a 5-gallon bucket (labeled with your name) for easy debris collection. Waders and rakes are helpful for riverbank cleanup.

For safety, all participants must register in small groups. Volunteers under 18 need a signed waiver and adult supervision. Over the past 25+ years, thousands have helped remove debris, improving the river’s health.

No RSVP required! For details, contact rivercleanup@comcast.net or CleaCarchia@outlook.com.

The Clark Volunteer Emergency Squad (CVES) recently hosted a training session for our members and EMTs from other agencies. New Jersey requires Basic Life Support agencies trained in the expanded scope of practices. 

 With proper training, agencies can now carry glucometers, albuterol, CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), and PEEP (Positive End Expiratory Pressure). EMTs use glucometers to check the patient’s blood sugar levels and albuterol, a bronchodilator that relaxes the airways and helps with breathing problems such as asthma and COPD. CPAP also works to help keep your airways open. PEEP is a tool to improve oxygenation while decreasing the body’s effort to breathe.

 Given these services EMTs can now provide, CVES held a training session.  Dr. Matthew Letizia, the squad’s medical director, taught the class proper use and function of these medical competencies. His goal was to make sure each student was well acquainted with the signs indicating when to use each as well as how to properly use them. The EMTs left the class feeling confident in their new skills.

 You should know that the Clark Volunteer Emergency Squad prioritizes training. All our EMTs must take vigorous training, but it doesn’t end with class time. Our Captain, Katie Sheldon, and Assistant Captain Michael Hajkowski, have our members practice their skills as part of their duty time. In between calls, a crew may practice splinting, going over the signs of a stroke or diabetic emergency, or the many other skills needed to provide you with excellent care.

   Whenever you need us, you can be confident that our members are well-trained in administering the proper care you need. If you have questions or want to join us and give back to the community, email us at cves@ourclark.com