Violent weekend in Jersey City
Two young men were shot and killed this weekend in Jersey City, possibly part of a rash of shootings of young men in the city that has gone on for more than a year. Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio told a local daily newspaper that the shootings were premeditated and that investigators are looking at the angle that they may have been related to some of last year’s murders of young men.
According to the most recent report, armed gunmen entered a Wegman Parkway home at 3:15 a.m. Friday and shot Ronald Jordan, 21, as he was watching TV. Jordan lived elsewhere, however, in the Marion Gardens public housing complex.
Before the end of that day, at 11:30 p.m., Stevens Avenue resident Ezekiel Sims, 31, was shot once “execution style” in a stairwell in the same complex, even if he did not live there, according to the newspaper.
These were the first two murders of the year in Jersey City.
Meanwhile, Sunday night, in an unrelated incident, an 18-year-old senior at a local vocational school was blinded in one eye by a shot from a police officer on patrol near Bergen and Dwight streets. Police said the man had a loaded gun.
The man was taken to Jersey City Medical Center around 8:30 p.m.
Read this weekend’s Jersey City Reporter for more about these troubling incidents.
‘Miracle on the Hudson’ survivors to attend book signing event
On Thursday, Jan. 14, several passengers from the “Miracle on the Hudson” flight will be present at a special book signing event at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at 465 River Rd., Edgewater. The free event will run from 7 to 9 p.m.
Released on the one-year anniversary of the emergency Hudson River landing of US Airways Flight 1549, “Brace for Impact,” by Kevin Quirk and Dorothy Firman, includes the words of 25 survivors. It details the event’s impact on their lives.
Free H1N1 shots for North Hudson residents
On Jan. 18, local residents can receive free immunization shots to prevent the H1N1 Virus, or Swine Flu, at St. Joseph of the Palisades Roman Catholic Church in West New York.
Medical professionals from Palisades Medical Center will be administrating the shots from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until supplies run out. The shots will be given out on a first come, first serve basis.
The immunization will take place at the church’s lower community center, at 320 64th St. in West New York. For more information, please call Joanne Riggs at (201) 854-5793.
Letter drive by High Tech’s Junior State of America
Members of High Tech High School’s Junior State of America (JSA) held a successful letter drive last month.
The JSA students set up a table at the school’s campus and collected letters for U.S. Marines currently stationed overseas. They stopped students who passed by and asked them if they would like to write a letter to a serviceman in Iraq who would not be home for the holidays.
Many students and those who passed by agreed to write, taking anywhere from five minutes to two hours to compose their writing. Some JSA students assisted those writing their letters.
Topics ranged from gratitude for their service in Iraq, local sports updates, recent news, snow fall, and even jokes to raise spirits.
“We’re usually thought of as just a student-run debate group,” said Leora Rosenberg, High Tech’s JSA chapter president. “This year, though, we’re really focused on making sure our political ideals don’t just die in debate. We want to use them to make a difference in our community.”
At the end of the two-day drive, JSA students had collected over 84 letters to mail to a unit of 48 New Jersey Marines stationed in Iraq. They hope to host more, larger drives in the future, including one at an upcoming JSA convention.
‘The Passion Play’ to host auditions
T he 95th anniversary of “The Passion Play – The Musical” will be held this year at the Park Performing Center, 560 32nd St., Union City, on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from March 13-27.
The long-standing production is currently casting for the musical adaption of the historic play.
Rehearsals will be held on evenings and weekends in Union City starting around Jan. 27.
Director Carl Gonzalez is seeking all types and ethnicities, which include eight male principal singer/actors (Apostles, Jesus, Judas, Pilate, etc.) eight female singer/actors, two child-singer/actors, 13 non-singing male roles and ensemble. A stipend is available for some roles.
Auditions are held by appointment on Tuesday, Jan. 12 from 6-9 p.m. and on Jan. 16 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Actors unable to make either date should send their picture and resume to casting@parkpac.org for consideration.
Those auditioning should prepare a short classical/semi-classical monologue. Those auditioning for singing roles should also prepare a ballad. An accompanist will be provided.
To schedule an appointment, call (201) 865-6980 at ext. 10 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.