Community News from Elmwood Park, New Jersey • A5

SADDLE BROOK Governor pushes for going green, discusses job market Council President Omar Rodriguez among those taking part in roundtable 'I believe that our town one way or another will 1 have to start looking into new Omar Rodriguez SB COUNCIL PRESIDENT 1 1 BY KATIE O'CONNELL North Jersey Community Newspapers Gov. Jon Corzine and U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis visited the training headquarters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 164 on April 29. In addition to addressing the new green jobs industry, the officials sat down for a roundtable discussion on the current job market and what the federal government is doing to stimulate job growth. The facility provides solar panel installation training and has newly installed solar panels on its roof.

Solis said the government is working to lessen the impact of the recession through the recently passed stimulus package. Part of the money from the package, $500 million, will go toward funding workforce training. "I think we can be optimistic that a year from now we can see unemployment going down, not up," Solis said. Saddle Brook Council President Omar Rodriguez said he was privileged to be invited to the discussion as one of the Latino leaders in Bergen County. Rodriguez stated the emphasis of the discussion was on how "green energy" could be utilized better and how the federal govern- ment could promote jobs in this field.

He said the federal initiative could be a boon for Saddle Brook. "I believe that our town one way or another will have to start looking into new technologies," said Rodriguez. "It gave me great ideas how in the near future we should start also looking into old equipment and facilities that we have and how we can turn it green." A group of citizens who had been laid off from jobs in the fields of electrical engineering, the culinary arts, newspapers and book publishing joined Solis and Corzine on the panel to tell their stories. "Everybody has an individual story and we have to work with the individuals," Corzine said. Many of the roundtable participants joined workforce training SEE GOV, PAGE 7 NICK MESSINASTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Saddle Brook Council President Omar Rodriguez gets together with Gov.

Jon Corzine at the IBEW Local 164 in Paramus on April 29. Rodriguez was one of 20 Hispanic and African-American elected officials to meet with the governor. BAR-B-Q TANKS TONY TRISCHKA'S DOUBLE BANJO BLUEGRASS SPECTACULAR 1 FILLED Providing Tax-Free Funds for Senior Homeowners Aged 62 Older Title Stays in Your Name Government Insured Programs No Monthly Mortgage Payments No Income or Credit Requirements For FREE Information No Obligation Call Bruce Scholz 201-845-5660 (Office) 201-638-0782 cell 1st Reverse Financial Services, LLC 410 Quail Ridge Drive, Westmont, IL 60559 1 877-574-1000 SSS 7 Days a Week until 8pm Including I Sunday Holidays! 1 BERGEN COIN A Full Service Coin Shop For All Your Needs BUYING SELLING Coins Paper Currency Collections Proof Mint Sets Gold Silver Bullion Accumulations Mint Stamps Sterling Silver Diamonds Gold and Silver Jewelry I Sat, May 16, at 8:00 p.m. $26 for adults; $24 for students senior citizens (65) Bergen Community College Ciccone Theatre Call 201-447-7428 or buy online at tickets.bergen.edu For more than 35 years, Tony Trischka has inspired a generation of bluegrass and acoustic musicians. The 2007 International Bluegrass Music Association Banjo Player of the Year, Trischka has recorded 36 albums and numerous compilations earning a Grammy nomination along the way.

Join Tony and his Band for a night of extraordinary music. I MUTANT PAYMENTS Import Domestic Automobiles, Light Trucks Vans WE USE ALL DATA SYSTEMS COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC REPAIR INFORMATION New Jersey Private Inspection Center license No. 0989 Emissions Fuel Systems Tune-Up Specialist .4 Coin Albums and Supplies in Stock Estate Appraisals by Appointment Off Street Parking in Rear 464 Market Street, Saddle Brook, NJ 201-845-5117 I Tuesday-Saturday 9am to 5pm bergencoinverizon.net I 75 Bonus when selling gold jewelry with this ad 30-09 Broadway Fair Lawn Beisen COMMUNITYJCOLLEGE 400 Paramus Paramus, NJ www.bergen.edu (opp. Valley National Bank) 201-791-3710 si.