Jersey City officials weigh in on swine flu
A press conference was held at the Jersey City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) on Thursday to outline what precautions city residents can take to avoid the illness.
The current swine flu outbreak is due to a strain of the influenza virus common in pigs that has led to eight confirmed deaths in Mexico, where it was first detected, and one confirmed death in the U.S as of Friday. It can be spread from human to human. The symptoms include lethargy, coughing and nausea.
At the press conference, Mayor Jerramiah Healy tried to allay people’s fears of any outbreak in Jersey City and Hudson County. There were reports of five swine flu cases in Hudson County, but all were checked out as not true.
“It’s coming from medical experts that it is fine to be concerned, it’s fine to be cautious, but there is no need to panic,” Healy said.
Dr. Michael Bessette, medical director of Jersey City Medical Center’s Emergency Department, said the hospital has seen a 10 percent increase in the past week of patients coming in with fever. But he said these are just people “being concerned.”
Among the recommendations given were washing hands more often and staying home from work or school if coming down with the flu.
After the press conference, city workers and volunteers handed out flyers in various languages in different parts of Jersey City.
Alleged gang member arrested for 2005 murder
Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said on Wednesday that Joseph Moreira, 29, formerly of Hoboken, was arrested on April 24 in Prince Georges County, Md. in connection with a 2005 murder in the Jersey City Heights.
DeFazio said Moreira, an alleged Latin Kings street gang member who goes by the nickname “King Megs,” is the suspect in the Oct. 18, 2005 slaying of 26-year-old Juan Batista, who was gunned down on the sidewalk outside a barbershop on Palisade Avenue. DeFazio said Moreira was charged with alleged murder and related weapons charges.
DeFazio said Moreira was captured after a tip from someone acquainted with Moreira. DeFazio said once the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Fugitive Squad was able to corroborate the tip, then the U.S. Marshals Office was contacted and they in turn worked with Prince Georges County law enforcement to capture Moreira, who had been staying with a girlfriend.
DeFazio said Moreira will not fight extradition back to New Jersey and could make his first appearance in court in Jersey City by this weekend.
Historic 100 Steps from JC to Hoboken being rebuilt
A groundbreaking took place on Wednesday for the rebuilding of the historic “100 Steps” that once ran down from the Jersey City Heights to the Jersey City/Hoboken border.
The Brass Works Urban Renewal Company, which built The Cliffs Lofts, a 120-unit residential rental building on Paterson Plank Road, started preliminary construction work last week on rebuilding of the “100 Steps” from above the Palisade Cliffs on Franklin Street and Mountain Road, down to an area adjacent to the Cliffs Lofts. The rebuilding is part of an agreement that the Brass Works Urban Renewal Company, run by Hoboken developers Sanford Weiss and Bob Greer, has with the city of Jersey City as a result of the city’s approval for the construction of the Cliffs Lofts.
It was prompted by local residents’ insistence that the steps be rebuilt.
The steps are scheduled to be finished by the end of this year, allowing people to walk down into Hoboken, rather than on Mountain Road, where there is also vehicular traffic
The steps were closed off around the 1920s and later deteriorated. They were taken down in the 1990’s at the behest of City Councilman Bill Gaughan, who represents the area.
Gaughan was at Wednesday’s groundbreaking along with Mayor Jerramiah Healy and other city officials and developer Bob Greer.
Charter school purchases former St. Al’s site
The Learning Community Charter School on April 24 purchased the former Academy of St. Aloysius building, at 2495 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City.
The charter school, now at 1 Canal St. in downtown Jersey City, plans to move this fall to the location near Lincoln Park. The school has 324 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. With the larger space in the former St. Aloysius building, the school can now grow its enrollment to 425 students.
“The biggest thing that has happened to this school since we opened,” said Shelley Skinner, Learning Community’s director of development and community research. “And it gives more opportunities for children who want to be there.”
The school was purchased from the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth for $5.7 million. The total $6.4 million purchase and outfitting was arranged by Real Estate Advisory and Development Services Inc. (READS), a nonprofit based in Metuchen that helps charter schools manage their real estate and facilities needs. Financing for the project comes from The Reinvestment Fund of Philadelphia.
“Owning their own facility is one of the most important steps in the growth of any charter school,” said Keith Timko, vice president of real estate and innovative programs of READS.
The Academy of St. Aloysius was a private high school for girls operated by the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth. After it closed in June 2006, the Sisters of Charity opened a new school called Caritas Academy on the site, but Caritas Academy closed in June 2008.
Correction
In the April 26 story, “Suicide, Sondheim and American History,” the front page picture was identified incorrectly. Actually, Jim Lahti is on the right and John Woodruff is on the left. Also, the website for Lahti’s and Woodruff’s opera “Meriwether” is www.meriwetheropera.org, not www.meriwether.org.
LibertyHealth Gala to support trauma center
LibertyHealth will hold its annual Spring Gala on Friday, May 8, with proceeds to benefit the Port Authority Heroes of September 11th Trauma Center at Jersey City Medical Center and the Jersey City Medical Center Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The event will be held at the brand new Westin Jersey City, 479 Washington Blvd., from 6-11 p.m.
To purchase tickets, and for additional information about the Gala, call (201) 377-6057 or visit www.libertyhealth.org.
Food pantry needs volunteers
The Sharing Place, a food pantry at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 440 Hoboken Ave., Jersey City, is seeking volunteers. They are open the last two Saturdays of the month from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Flexible hours are available, no training is necessary, and volunteer service can be applied to confirmation and high school community service requirements. Call Paul LaCourtna at (201) 725-7202.
‘Step Up for Arc’ event
The Step Up for Arc Walk 2009 will be held on May 16 at James Braddock Park in North Bergen.
Step Up for the Arc is the annual statewide walkathon of The Arc, the largest non-profit service organization supporting individuals with mental retardation, along with their families.
The eighth annual walkathon is presented by the Arc of Hudson County, in conjunction with the Arc of New Jersey and other local chapters.
Previously, the Arc raised more than $32,000 for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in Hudson County. More than 300 people took part in last year’s walk.
“The Arc of Hudson County is honored to have so many sponsors supporting us this year,” said Nadia Cabana, Executive Director of Hudson County Community Services. “Their support goes a long way to ensure that we can help as many families in Hudson County as possible.”
The walk will begin at 11 a.m. and walkers will circle the lake. Snacks, give aways and face painting will be available.
For more information about Step Up For the Arc Walk, visit www.arcnj.org or call (201) 319-9229.
National Dance Week with Kennedy Dancers
The Kennedy Dancers will present their annual National Dance Week Showcase at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City.
The dances will be performed by the Kennedy Dancers Repertory Company (professional dancers), along with the Inner City Youth Junior Dance Company (teen dancers on scholarship).
Performances will be on April 300 and May 1 at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $20 at the door.
For more information, call (201) 658-2190.