Jersey City teen dies after punch to the chest
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office said on Thursday that the death of a Jersey City teen after he was “play fighting” with a friend appears not to be “malicious.”
Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said Ian Artola, 14, of Bowers Street, died after he was punched in the chest and suffered cardiac arrest at around 5 p.m. Wednesday.
DeFazio said the cause of death is pending further medical study to determine if a pre-existing heart condition for Artola may have played a part in his death.
DeFazio said Artola and a friend were sparring inside the park at Terrace Avenue and Thorne Street when he collapsed. DeFazio said other juveniles in the park at the time tried to revive Artola but were unsuccessful.
DeFazio said, “They were sparring, play acting. It does not appear they were angry at each other.”
DeFazio also said published reports about Artola being part of a “fight club” or involved in a “boxing match” is a “mischaracterization” of what took place.
Anniversary Walk for Multiple Sclerosis
The 21st annual Anniversary Walk for MS, a fundraiser to end multiple sclerosis, will be held on Sunday, April 19, at the Market Oval at Newport, 20 North Blvd. in Jersey City. Over 10,000 individuals are expected to participate at 14 walk sites across New Jersey to raise an anticipated $2,000,000 for the cause. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The walk starts at 10 a.m. For more information, please visit www.nationalmssociety.org/njm or call (800) 344-4867.
Hudson Catholic High School to receive honor
The Area Development Council (ADC) of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce will award Hudson Catholic High School with its 2009 Gateway County Award. The award will be presented May 19 at 12 p.m. at the annual ADC luncheon at Casino in the Park in Jersey City.
The award will recognize Hudson Catholic’s “investment of time, money, and expertise in the growth of Hudson County’s dynamic business community.” County Executive Tom DeGise will present Hudson Catholic with a proclamation acknowledging the school’s “contribution to our county’s continued progress.”
Father Warren Hall, President/Principal of Hudson Catholic, said, “This is just another sign to the city, the county, the Archdiocese, and all members of the Hudson Catholic family that we are continuing to rise!”
Recently, Hudson Catholic enrolled over 140 students for its incoming freshman class, as well as a large number of transfer students.
Hudson Catholic Regional High School is one of the regional high schools in the Archdiocese of Newark, providing a college preparatory education for students in grades 9-12. Today approximately 400 young men are enrolled in the school. As of September 2009, the school will be co-ed. Co-ed transfers from 9th through 11th grades are welcome.
Jersey City Mobility 2050 up for approval
The Jersey City Planning Board will consider adoption of a revised Circulation Element of the Jersey City Master Plan (a.k.a. Jersey City Mobility 2050) at its Tuesday, April 14 meeting. This meeting will convene at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 280 Grove St.
The purpose of Jersey City Mobility 2050 is to create an action-oriented transportation master plan for Jersey City’s multi-modal transportation network (including light rail, PATH, bus, ferry, bicycle facilities, sidewalks, and roadways) through the year 2050.
The revised Circulation Element is available for download from the project website www.jerseycitymobility2050.com
Paper copies of the revised Circulation Element are available for review at the Division of City Planning located at 30 Montgomery St., Suite 1400, and at the Office of the City Clerk located in City Hall, 280 Grove St.
Any questions, contact Naomi Hsu of the Division of City Planning at (201) 547-5010.
Rebuilding Together Jersey City readies for annual event
Beginning next week, St. Patrick’s School cafeteria in Jersey City will be transformed into “Command Central” as Rebuilding Together Jersey City gets ready for their annual spring event to fix up homes and community facilities in Jersey City
This year’s event takes place on Saturday, April 18, when eight Jersey City homeowners and hundreds of children and adults will see the refurbishing of structures that impact on their everyday lives. In a unique partnership, more than 500 skilled and unskilled volunteers of all ages will gather at 7 a.m. at St. Patrick’s before being dispatched to 14 Jersey City sites, including the organization’s host, St. Patrick’s School.
Anyone over 18 years old can volunteer. Interested parties may either call (201) 222-2636 prior to the April 18 event, or can register in person on Rebuilding Day at the St. Patrick’s School cafeteria between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. Assignments will be given at that time. Volunteers should plan to spend the entire day and are urged to wear work clothes and sturdy shoes. All volunteers will receive a Rebuilding Day T-shirt and will be treated to a light breakfast, lunch, and a celebratory barbecue at the end of the day.
Rebuilding Together Jersey City is one of more than 200 nation-wide affiliates of the largest, nonsectarian, nonprofit, home rehabilitation organization in the United States working to preserve affordable home ownership and revitalize communities.
HCCC commencement ceremony
H udson County Community College will hold its 31st annual commencement ceremonies on Wednesday, May 20 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Author and actor on popular TV drama CSI: NY Hill Harper will deliver the keynote address. The college will give out more than 700 associate degrees from the Journal Square and North Hudson Center campuses.