Hudson County Sheriff’s Office arrests alleged deadbeat dads
Hudson County Sheriff Juan Perez announced on Tuesday the arrests of 32 deadbeat dads in October owing child support payments totaling $408,389.
Perez said the individuals arrested owed payments as high as $99,889 to as low as $114.
They resided in the following towns: Jersey City (20), Bayonne (4), Union City (3), Kearny (2), Guttenberg (1), North Bergen (1) and Belleville (1), and ranged in age from 25 to 62.
Perez also issued this warning to deadbeat dads: “No matter how old you are or whatever the amount of child support owed, you will be apprehended by the long arm of the Sheriff’s Office in Hudson County.”
Helpline celebrates anniversary in JC
Department of Children and Families (DCF) Commissioner Kimberly Ricketts joined representatives from “180 Turning Lives Around” at the Boys & Girls Club of Hudson County in Jersey City on Monday to celebrate the first anniversary of New Jersey’s 2NDFLOOR Youth Helpline. Since its statewide launch in last year, the helpline has received over 168,000 calls and 98,000 Web site hits.
The helpline – 1-888-222-2228 – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to children and young adults ages 10-24. The program’s slogan is “Anything, Anytime, Anywhere,” and it is designed to provide universal, toll-free, confidential telephone assistance that offers immediate interactive, respectful helpline services with linkage to appropriate information and resources.
2NDFLOOR Youth Helpline operates from 180 Turning Lives Around, Inc. in Hazlet, N.J.
Calls over the last year to 2NDFLOOR Youth Helpline have varied from issues with peer relationships and sexuality to domestic violence and substance abuse.
2NDFLOOR Youth Helpline is supported by a unique partnership of state, federal and private funding sources. In 2008, 2NDFLOOR Youth Helpline was awarded $626,000 to support a statewide teen helpline as a part of Governor Corzine’s Safe Streets and Safe Neighborhoods initiative last year.
Visit the 2NDFLOOR Youth Helpline Web site at www.2NDFLOOR.org.
Jersey City to welcome USS New York
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, the Municipal Council, the Jersey City Police Department, and the Jersey City Fire Department will host a gathering as part of the historic celebration commissioning the USS New York LPD-21 beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, at the Jersey City Waterfront at Exchange Place, at the foot of Montgomery Street.
The USS New York LPD-21 was built with steel from the remains of the World Trade Center and named in honor of the victims of Sept. 11.
The ship will make its way up the Hudson River and will stop at the World Trade Center site to “dip” the United States flag in the Hudson River. There will also be a 21-gun salute in honor of the 9/11 victims and their families.
Jersey City’s own Fire Department Marine I vessel, the Joseph Lovero, will escort the USS New York LPD-21 as it docks. Uniformed Police Officers and firefighters will stand amongst spectators during this historic event.
“It is with great honor that Jersey City partakes in this historic moment,” said Mayor Healy. “We can stand as a proud nation because of the thousands of brave men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our country.”
College begin food and cell phone drive
Hudson County Community College’s Office of Student Activities will launch two community service initiatives starting this Monday, Nov. 2.
First, used and unwanted cell phones will be collected for enlisted military personnel. Also, there will be a drive for canned and non-perishable food items, which will be brought to St. Lucy’s Shelter on Grove Street in Jersey City.
Donations can be made Monday to Friday from Nov. 2 to Nov. 23 for the food drive, and Nov. 30 for the cell phone drive, between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in collection boxes outside the Office of Student Activities (Rm. 104) at 25 Journal Sq. For more information, contact the Office of Student Activities at (201) 360-4199.