Senior Picnic at Van Saun Park

Senior Picnic The weather cooperated along with the many political candidates vying for reelection in November. Seniors in busloads and packed cars entered Van Saun Park through designated routes and were directed to parking and unloading areas. Both the County police and the Sheriff’s officers were available to help direct the Seniors to the proper area and keep congestion to a minimum..
As one entered, there was a ‘coffee and’ table where early birds could purchase a cup of coffee and buttered rolls or doughnuts at reasonable prices. The picnic area was divided by color so that different residents of Bergen County could sit with their neighbors. Along the pathways were tables manned by various political, business and social organizations. Seniors lined up and passed each table each table having features like pamphlets, services and free goods. At one point, it was difficult to wend one’s way along the pathways.

Among the politicians and candidates circulating were: Sam Casiello, Bob Coletti, John Driscoll, Rene Carnecki, Harry Shortway Jr., Bob Gordon, Connie Wagner, Sheriff Leo P. McGuire, Dennis McNerney, Joan Voss, Senator Joseph Coniglio, Gordon Johnson and Senator Loretta Weinberg.

I was pleased to greet Marge Mazza from Bright Side Manor as she led in a group of residents from the Teaneck based home. Of course I missed my friend, Hazel Snell, but Hazel tends to stay at home a lot. Erika Dankovits, Bright Side’s Assistant Administrator, was manning a table where they tested blood pressure.

www.ParamusPost.com was able to make a lot of contacts and has some future Profiles due. One of them is with the Hackensack Radiology Group Newman Street Imaging. At first I had them confused with the CancerCenter on State Street and Dr. Glen Gejerman. When I recovered from my ‘grievous’ error, I realized that it was my favorite cardiologist, Dr. Sanjeev Patel, who has sent me there many times for Nuclear Stress Tests.

Dellridge Health and Rehabilitation Center’s Carolyn Curtis and I discussed not only a story, but the fact that our publisher, Sam Stone the Minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church, has made many visits there with his congregants. The Meadowlands Area YMCA manned a table as did Pascack Valley Hospital, Valley Hospital, Bergen Regional and Jewish Family Service.

One table that ‘hit home’ was Let’s Get Organized ( www.LGOrganized.com ) . Their banner headline is Win the battle over clutter. CareOne at Dunroven is hosting a 5K Run on Sunday, October 21st at 10 AM, rain or shine. www.therunningcompany.net . Bergen County had many booths set up to help alert the Seniors as to the services available to them. Dr. Valerie Williams Dargan, Director of the Department of Human Services was present to make sure that her department was presented properly.

Packaged lunches were distributed rapidly by staff members and included utensils, a turkey sandwich on a long roll with a choice of mustard or mayonnaise enclosed, cole slaw, potato salad, a brownie style dessert and a container of ice tea (no ice) with a straw. On stage several groups presented music to entertain the attendees. The entire function was very well run.