Two men arrested for double homicide in JC
A week ago Tuesday, the fourth and fifth homicides in Jersey City this year occurred after two cousins were killed and found in front of a building on Woodlawn Avenue.
Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said when police arrived they found Malique Richardson, 17, and Lester Thompson, 26, dead and lying face down on the ground. Both men, who were cousins, lived in a home on Van Nostrand Avenue.
DFazio said the young men were both shot numerous times. DeFazio said Thompson was killed by a shot to the head, and Richardson died from a shot to the face. Money was taken from both men.
Over the past weekend, two other young men were arrested for the crime.
Ronald “Diddy” Lawrence, and Hakeem “Hak” Lester, 21, were each charged with two counts of felony murder, armed robbery, and weapons possession, Assistant Prosecutor Guy Gregory confirmed.
Gregory confirmed that the cousins were apparently “set up” and lured to the scene, where they were robbed.
Lester was arrested by members of the Jersey City Police Department and County Prosecutor’s Office at 4 p.m. on Saturday when he was spotted in the city. Lawrence turned himself in the next morning.
The Prosecutor’s Office praised the work of the investigators and police who determined the suspects.
It had not been determined whether the incident was gang-related as of Monday.
Hoboken schools offer top spot to Frank Romano
Even though the Hoboken Board of Education planned to announce its decision about the next superintendent of schools on Tuesday, the leading candidate told another newspaper that he has been selected and was negotiating a contract.
Fort Lee Assistant Superintendent Frank Romano was presented two weeks ago as one of two individuals vying for the spot. The other is Gayle Griffin, a central office administrator in Newark.
The district is presently run by Interim Superintendent Peter Carter, who took over last year when Jack Raslowsky left suddenly.
The Record of Hackensack reported over the weekend, “After interviewing for Hoboken Public Schools district’s superintendent position last month, Fort Lee Assistant Superintendent Frank Romano said Feb. 6 he was offered the job. ‘We are in the process of negotiating a contract,’ Romano said. Romano will complete the remaining time in his two-year contract with Fort Lee, and take the Hoboken post starting July 1.”
Celebrate Valentine’s Day without the booze
There’s a ‘Smart Party’ coming to Jersey City this Friday. Adults over 21 are invited to “SWOON,” a unique, alcohol-free soiree Friday Feb. 12 from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Grassroots Community Space, 54 Coles St., Jersey City.
The public will enjoy music, dancing, schmoozing and delicious “mocktails.” Desserts, snacks available. Cover: $5.
Founded by Lynn Earley of North Bergen, the Smart Party is an alternative to the bar scene. It is a network of individuals in all the creative fields, as well those in both holistic and corporate professions. Earley , who has been alcohol-free 22 years, has been promoting partying without alcohol in the NJ/NYC metro area since 1991. She founded the Smart Party in NYC Without Alcohol at meetup.com in September 2008. The group currently has 405 members. Hosts for this venue will be members of the Smart Party in NJ. A new spinoff group, a College Age Smart Party, was recently added to provide those age 18-21 with positive venues, other than the current booze-filled college party scene.
The Smart Party is currently seeking : 1) Artists, musicians, dancers, singers, photographers, DJs, actors and other talented individuals to help produce multi-media events, 2) Models and actresses, to be spokesmodels, part of the “Sweet Team,” promoting partying without alcohol 3) a permanent space 4) an angel/investor, who wishes to help the group achieve its goals.
For more information, please contact Lynn Earley: satorispace@yahoo.com or myspace.com/smartpartyusa.
‘Lincoln’s Bloody Flag’ highlights 145th dinner celebration
The Lincoln Association of Jersey City will be showcasing “Lincoln’s Bloody Flag” at their 145th Dinner celebration on Feb. 12 at the Casino in the Park Restaurant in Lincoln Park, Jersey City, marking the end of the 200th Anniversary Year of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth.
The evening Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, this flag was torn from its perch to prop the president’s head and stem the bleeding. Stained with Lincoln’s blood, this famous flag permanently resides at the Pike County Historical Society, Milford, Pa., but will be making a trip east to Jersey City for the celebrations of the day.
Tickets for the dinner are $60 in advance or $70 at the door. They include entry to the exhibit, dinner and the evening’s entertainment, and there is a cash bar. Advance tickets can be purchased from President Suzann McKiernan Anderson by emailing khgallery@aol.com or calling 201-892-3123.
Pair charged with Park Avenue Hotel murder denied dismissal
Last week the pair that is being charged with the 2006 murder of Jennifer Moore, 18, in a now-defunct Weehawken hotel was denied a motion filed by their attorneys to dismiss the indictment against them or suppress the physical evidence from their arrests.
Draymond Coleman and Krystal Riordan, both of New York City, are charged in the July 25, 2006 murder of Moore, a Harrington Park teen killed in the former Park Avenue Hotel in Weehawken after she and a friend got split up after a night partying at a club in New York City. After the murder, Moore’s body was left in a West New York garbage container a few blocks away.
Either of the accused, who are currently incarcerated, could appeal the decision. A trial is still months away.
The hotel where the murder was allegedly committed has since been demolished and the site on Park Avenue near 48th Street is being converted to affordable senior housing.
NY Waterway offers a chance to win free tickets to Shen Yun
N Y Waterway will raffle tickets for Radio City Music Hall’s Shen Yen, the world’s premier Chinese dance and music company, through Feb. 19. Passengers can submit entry forms at NY Waterway ferry terminals at Port Imperial in Weehawken and West 39th Street in Manhattan, as well as online. Every week, two winners will be drawn who each will receive a pair of tickets to Shen Yun in celebration of the Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. Performances are Feb. 13, 14, 20 and 21.
The tickets valued at $136 will give winners the opportunity to experience the authentic cultural heritage of classical China while also giving an entirely new program of dances, songs, and musical scores for everyone to enjoy.
For more information call 1-800-53-FERRY or visit www.nywaterway.com.
Fourth annual New Jersey Hall of Fame essay contest announced
The New Jersey Hall of Fame is calling for entries to its fourth annual essay contest, which is open to all New Jersey students in grades four through 12.
Students are asked to nominate potential inductees, living or dead, to the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Nominations can include famous people as well as ordinary citizens who do extraordinary things. Students should research or interview the person they wish to nominate and write an essay no longer than 500 words.
Essays must be typed and double-spaced. The student must include his/her name, age, grade level as of April 1, 2010, address, phone number, parent/guardian’s name, school name, and school district.
Each winning student and three guests will be invited as VIP guests to the New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 2 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The winners will also receive $500 from the NJHOF.
Nominations must be postmarked by April 1 to be eligible and mailed to: NJ Hall of Fame Essay Contest, NJEA, Attn: Dawn Hiltner, PO Box 1211, Trenton, NJ 08607-1211.
For more information about the Hall of Fame, visit www.NJHallofFame.org.