Six Motor Vehicle Clerks Indicted for Selling Fake Driver’s Licenses: Six clerks for the Motor Vehicle Commission, including two who worked in Jersey City, have been charged with conspiring to sell fraudulent licenses to desperate drivers, most frequently to foreigners, who lacked the proper identification, state Attorney General Paula Dow announced yesterday. Twenty-one customers and 13 brokers also were among those facing charges.

Satirical New Jersey Map Goes Viral: A satirical map of New Jersey that went viral this week on the Internet labeled Jersey City as home to “Poor White Minorities.”

Hudson County Loan Could Offer Cheaper Energy: Cheaper energy could be coming to Jersey City and the Jersey City Board of Education courtesy of the sun and a $5.7 million development loan from the Hudson County Improvement Authority. The county is being asked to guarantee the HCIA loan to a solar energy company to install solar panels on at least 36 municipal and school buildings throughout Hudson County.

Crime Blotter: A Plainfield man in a stolen SUV led police officers from Kearny, Jersey City and the State Police on a wild, dangerous chase yesterday morning that ended near Liberty State Park and left a number of police vehicles damaged, authorities said; two gas attendants at 156 Broadway in Jersey City were robbed of $225 in cash by a gunman early yesterday, according to police reports.

Today’s Best Bets:

Downtown Jersey City’s newest cafe, Steam, has an art opening tonight, featuring works from Thomas John Carlson, Stephen Cimini, John Fathom, William Finne and others (7 pm, free).

J City Theater’s annual production of A Tuna Christmas, about the holidays in Texas’s third-smallest town, opens tonight.

In Statewide News:

Report Blasts Mob Involvement in Garbage and Recycling Operations: The state has become a haven for criminally tainted garbage and recycling entrepreneurs, according to a report from the State Commission of Investigation (SCI). This is the third time in four decades the commission has put authorities on notice of criminal elements in New Jersey’s solid waste industry.

State Adopts Energy Master Plan: The Christie administration yesterday adopted an Energy Master Plan with changes aimed at stabilizing New Jersey’s once flourishing solar energy market, which some fear is threatened by a collapse.

After Election Upset, Mayor’s Influence Questioned: Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s council candidates lost despite support from the Jersey City Democratic Committee and organizational help from the Hudson County Democratic Committee. Thus, some are wondering if the mayor’s influence is waning.

More Construction Does Not Equal More Jobs: Despite the economic and housing slump, several Jersey City construction projects are either underway or have recently completed. But some residents say these projects have not translated into increased work opportunities for members of the community.

More Options for Composting: A Jersey City resident plans to start an exchange between gardeners with space to compost and apartment dwellers that want a place to drop off compost, while the Hudson County Improvement Authority hopes to create a compost drop-off area.

Jersey City Web Series Seeks Suggestions: After airing the first eight mini-episodes, the creators of The Untitled Jersey City Project, an FX web series, are looking for suggestions on where to take the plot in the upcoming episodes.

Carbon Monoxide Shuts Down Gas Service: High carbon monoxide readings led to gas service being shut off Saturday at a four-story building at 360 Pacific Avenue, Jersey City fire officials said.

Leaky Water Main: Roughly 75 families in Jersey City were left without water for several hours yesterday while technicians fixed a leaky water main at Princeton and Winfield Avenues, United Water officials said.

Retired Police Officer Inducted into Hall of Fame: A former Jersey City Police Chief Frank Gajewski was inducted into a police Hall of Fame at George Mason University in Virginia.

Car Flips on West Side Avenue: A 22-year-old Queens man flipped his car and hit two parked cars at West Side Avenue near Gifford Avenue Sunday afternoon, police reports said.

Attacked Roommate Still Hospitalized: A Jersey City man stabbed 28 times last month in a Heights bloodbath remains hospitalized, but says he is glad to learn his alleged attacker may face attempted murder charges.

Alleged Con Man Pleads Guilty: A Jersey City man, using a scheme that included illegally obtained Social Security numbers, inflated appraisals and false job histories, swindled four banks out of more than $1.1 million, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced yesterday.

Fire in Greenville: Jersey City firefighters quickly extinguished a small fire in a three-story Greenville building yesterday morning, officials said.

Crime Blotter: A 17-year-old Jersey City girl told police that her ex-boyfriend slashed her under the chin with a kitchen knife after the two quarreled about the breakup, reports said; an 18-year-old Bayonne woman was arrested early yesterday morning after punching a Jersey City police officer who was trying to stop a street fight, police reports said; a 31-year-old Jersey City man was cut several times after being “jumped” at a Heights bar early Saturday morning, police reports said; a 16-year-old Jersey City boy was robbed by a group of men and boys on Sip Avenue Thursday night, officials said.

Today’s Best Bets:

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor, Kim Guadagno, local entrepreneurs, government officials and business leaders converge for Global Entrepreneurship Week, which kicks off tonight at 7 pm at City Hall.

In Statewide News:

Stated Readies New School Report Cards: The Christie administration will unveil this week a plan for new school report cards that will rate every public school in New Jersey on overall achievement, gaps in achievement and specific academic targets.

Menendez Campaign Money Globally Sourced: A year before he faces New Jersey voters seeking reelection, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez has raised more than $10 million. Half comes from his North Jersey connections and the rest from outreach to donors with national and even global interests.

Dow Headed to Superior Court: Sources — including one powerful source close to Attorney General Paula Dow — tell PolitickerNJ.com that she will leave the attorney general’s office to become a superior court judge in Essex County.

Job Losses Hurt Minorities More: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the latest New Jersey average monthly unemployment figures from October 2010 through September 2011 show the rate at 15.4 percent for blacks, 10.9 percent for Hispanics and 8.6 percent for whites, down just slightly from a year ago.

New Law Aids Domestic Violence Victims: Legislation that imposes more stringent bail restrictions on those charged with violating domestic violence-related restraining orders has been signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie.

Medicaid Seeks to Bring Managed Care to Behavioral Services: New Jersey is seeking federal approval to redesign its system for providing behavioral health services to Medicaid members.

Cerf Takes Moderate Tone at NJEA Convention: Acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf came to the teachers union convention Friday and told educators that he appreciated and valued them and wanted to listen to their concerns.

The program, sponsored by a state Department of Environmental Protection grant, helps ensure that potentially dangerous waste is correctly disposed of.

“Removing dangerous materials from our homes … is a smart way to protect our families and the environment,” County Executive Tom DeGise says in a statement.

You no longer need to bring latex paints or alkaline batteries; both now fall below state and federal hazardous waste standards and can be tossed out with your regular garbage, and neither will be accepted on Saturday.

You can now bring thermostats from your home heating system, vehicle tires, and compact fluorescent light bulbs. For the bulbs, you have to either place it back in its original packaging, in an air-tight container or wrap it in cellophane, newspaper or duct tape — this helps prevents mercury contamination if the bulb breaks.

In addition to the items mentioned above, here’s what you can bring:

• Cleaners and corrosives
• Pool and photo chemicals
• Oil-based paints and varnishes
• Rechargeable and car batteries
• Propane tanks from grills
• Solvents and thinners
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Formaldehyde
• Used motor oil
• Old gasoline
• Fire extinguishers
• Antifreeze
• Marine and auto flares
• Computers, printers and monitors
• Consumer electronics
• Cellphones

And here’s what you can’t bring:

• Explosives
• Smoke detectors
• Compressed gas cylinders and tanks
• TCBs and TCCD (like freon or helium)
• Woodlife
• Dioxin
• Asbestos
• Kepone
• Infectious waste
• Silvex 2,4, and 5-t
• Radioactive materials
• Ballasts
• Washers, dryers, refrigerators and air conditioners
• Over-the-counter or prescription drugs

THE DETAILS

Fall 2011 Hazardous Waste Collection Day; Saturday, October 15 from 9 am to 1 pm; JCIA, 501 Route 440. For more information, call 1-800-540-0987.

The agency allows Hudson County residents (the service is not open to businesses) to come and shred up to 40 pounds of personal, confidential or sensitive documents for free, though it asks residents to simply recycle non-sensitive paper at your home. You should remove large binder clips, but you can leave staples and paper clips on.

The HCIA also will be selling its Earth Machine compost bins for $30 on Saturday (retail value over $150). This compost bin is an “enclosed” one that features locking lid, bottom harvest door, and anchor pegs to secure to ground. It does not have a built-in crank turn, but should be periodically stilled manually with a pitch fork.

THE DETAILS

Mobile Shredding & Compost Bin Sale; Saturday, October 1 from 9 am to 1 pm; Lincoln Park (in the parking lot by the running track). For more information, call 1-800-540-0987.

The HCIA is offering a Earth Machine compost bin (30 inches high and 36 inches wide) for $30 (it retails for more than $150), and if you reserve a compost bin by the end of today, the agency will throw in a free kitchen scrap bucket. The large, 55-gallon capacity rain barrels are being offered for $50 (they retail for more than $120).

Using a compost bin is a relatively easy way to reduce the amount of waste you generate, and the finished product makes a great addition to any garden’s soil mix. Rain barrels, which collect rain to be later used on plants, gardens and lawns, can greatly reduce household water bills while conserving the municipal water supply.

Saturday’s event, which is rain or shine and open to Hudson County residents only, will also feature a Garden Question & Answer Booth.

THE DETAILS

Compost Bin/Rain Barrel Sale Day, Saturday April 30 from 9 am to 3 pm; Lincoln Park (in the parking lot by the running track). To reserve a bin or barrel, call 1-800-540-0987.

This year, the event features a 5K Run and a 5K Walk that both begin at 10 am, followed by a full day of live entertainment, information on environmental efforts, and plenty of family-friendly activities.

“Celebrating Earth Day in Liberty State Park is an excellent way to help get our kids back to nature; all while learning how to protect our unique environment,” county executive Tom DeGise says in a statement. “With all the free crafts, giveaways and activities for the kids, it is a nice way for parents to relax and enjoy the outdoors as well.”

This year the event, which is put together by the Hudson County Improvement Authority (HCIA), will also feature an “Eco-Olympics Event,” where students can compete in “environmental relays and races.” There will also be a “Kids’ Kingdom” area for children, and plenty of opportunities for folks who want to get greener at home.

The state Department of Environmental Protection will be giving out free tree seedlings, while HCIA representatives will be on hand to take reservations for deeply discounted rain barrels and compost bins. The rain collection barrels are $50 (retail over $120) and the compost bins are $30 (retail over $150), and can be picked up at the HCIA’s annual Compost Bin/Rain Barrel Sale Day in Lincoln Park on April 30.

If you want to run or take part in the walk, which raises money for Friends of Liberty State Park, registration begins at 7:30 am on the south side of the historic rail terminal.

“On behalf of myself and my fellow commissioners, I would like to invite you to join us for a great time at Liberty State Park on April 16,” said HCIA chairman John Shinnick says in a statement. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring residents together to learn about the environment and spend time with their community. It’s a great day of free outdoor fun for the whole family.”

Photo via the Earth Day Network

The policy change was ushered in by the Electronic Waste Management Act, which bans the disposal of televisions and all personal or portable computers in the regular waste stream beginning January 1.

“We expect a smooth transition thanks to the work of municipalities, counties and manufacturers who have been cooperating closely with the DEP to coordinate their efforts,” DEP commissioner Bob Martin says in a statement. “Everyone has been working hard to make sure residents will have ample opportunities for recycling their electronic waste.”

Hudson County already collects electronic waste, via the Hudson County Improvement Authority’s (HCIA) twice-yearly Household Hazardous Waste collections. For more information on this or other HCIA efforts, call 201-795-4555.

In addition, Best Buy stores and many community-based service programs — like Goodwill Industries and the Salvation Army — also accept these materials.

Electronic waste makes up about two percent of the solid waste disposed in New Jersey, according to the DEP, and the products contain harmful lead, mercury, cadmium and other toxins. The volume of electronic waste is also growing between two and three times faster than any other type of waste, due to the increasing social reliance on technology, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

The new law will prevent 50 million pounds of electronic waste from being sent to the wrong place in 2011, according to DEP estimates.

The law does not cover cell phones, DVD players, VCRs, game consoles, or other electronic devices, although the DEP notes that some retailers and service organizations provide opportunities for recycling these items.

So what can you bring and what can’t you? Let’s first run through the changes this year.

You no longer need to bring latex paints or alkaline batteries; both now fall below state and federal hazardous waste standards and can be tossed out with your regular garbage, and neither will be accepted on Saturday.

You can now bring thermostats from your home heating system, and compact fluorescent light bulbs. For the bulbs, you have to either place it back in its original packaging, in an air-tight container or wrap it in cellophane, newspaper or duct tape — this helps prevents mercury contamination if the bulb breaks.

In addition to the changes mentioned above, here’s what you can bring:

• Cleaners and corrosives
• Pool and photo chemicals
• Oil-based paints and varnishes
• Rechargeable and car batteries
• Propane tanks from grills
• Solvents and thinners
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Formaldehyde
• Used motor oil
• Old gasoline
• Fire extinguishers
• Antifreeze
• Marine and auto flares
• Computers, printers and monitors
• Consumer electronics
• Cellphones

And here’s what you can’t bring:

• Explosives
• Smoke detectors
• Compressed gas cylinders and tanks
• TCBs and TCCD (like freon or helium)
• Woodlife
• Dioxin
• Asbestos
• Kepone
• Infectious waste
• Silvex 2,4, and 5-t
• Radioactive materials
• Ballasts
• Washers, dryers, refrigerators and air conditioners
• Tires
• Over-the-counter or prescription drugs

Meanwhile, the Hudson TMA will also be on hand Saturday to collect old bicycles for its Bike Rehab Program, which rehabilitates unwanted bikes and distributes them to disadvantaged families. Specifically, the rehabbed bicycles go to adults who can use them for transportation to either work or to children who do not have bicycles. The program will not accept any bent frames, and is looking for bikes in “fair to good” condition.

THE DETAILS
HCIA Hazardous Waste Day; Saturday, October 16 from 9 am to 1 pm; at the Jersey City Incinerator Authority, 501 Route 440. For more information, call 1-800-540-0987.

Shredding sensitive or confidential documents is widely considered one of the easiest ways to prevent identity theft. At the HCIA event, documents will be shredded by “trained, licensed and bonded document destruction specialists,” and individual document loads will be capped at 40 lbs.

HCIA asks that you remove plastic binders and large binder clips (staples and paper clips are OK) from your documents before bringing them to the shredder, and that you recycle magazines and other non-confidential paper curbside as usual. The event is open to residents only, not businesses.

THE DETAILS
Free Document Shredding; Saturday, October 9 from 9 am to 1 pm (rain or shine); Lincoln Park (in the parking lot by the running track)

The HCIA will be selling The Earth Machine, an outdoor composter, for $30; the bin sells for about $150 on the retail market. This year, the HCIA will also sell rain collection barrels for $50. Rain barrels, which collect and store rainwater that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains, are being used by more and more urban gardeners to water their plants.

For more info, call the HCIA Environmental Hotline at 1-800-540-0987.

DETAILS
Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale
Saturday, May 1, 9 am to 3 pm
Lincoln Park

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