Backlash over temporary YMCA closure
On Friday, March 19, the Hoboken-North Hudson YMCA, 1301 Washington St., shut down its health and family programming in preparation for a long-planned but financially-strapped expansion and renovation project. The YMCA’s low-income residences will remain open while they prepare for their expansion, which should start in the next few months.
Unfortunately, the board did not notify its members or the staff of the impending closure, and last week the Reporter received several letters, e-mails, and website comments very critical of the board of directors. Some people said they had just paid or renewed their membership.
The Hoboken YMCA will be giving a three-month free membership to all members who were active as of March 15, 2010 once renovations are complete, according to a release hanging on the front door of the building at 1301 Washington St.
Also, several other local YMCAs will be honoring memberships in the meantime: McBurney YMCA, 125 West 14th Street, NYC, NY 10011, (212) 912-2300; West Side YMCA, 5 West 63 Street, NYC, NY 10023, (212) 875-4100; Dodge Family YMCA, 225 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201, (718) 625-3136; and Vanderbilt YMCA, 224 East 47 Street, NYC, NY 10017, (212) 756-9600.
The notice asks that members bring your scan card and ID. Each of these facilities has a pool, a variety of classes, programs, and up to date equipment, according to the release.
YMCA officials were questioned but would not comment further on the situation.
Arts & Music Festival
The Hoboken Arts & Music Festival will be held on Sunday May 2 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The event is held on Washington Street between Observer Highway and Seventh Street. Admission is free for all.
The festival features over 300 artists, sculptors, photographers, and craftspeople, as well as a Kids Zone on Third Street in the Capital One Bank parking lot. Three stages of will feature live performances Freedy Johnston, The Doughboys, Rosewood Ghosts, Jack Skuller, Hannah Valente, Mad Dog Mary, Bandwith, Verdict, Ron Albanese, and more. (Schedule to be announced soon.)
A special section with fine artists will be located between Second and Third streets.
The Kids Zone will feature performances by The Little Maestros, Polka Dot, and magician Kevin Ryan; rides, games, face painting and more.
For more information, call (201) 420-2207, e-mail hoboculturalaffairs@gmail.com, or visit the city website at www.hobokennj.org.
County sheriff fires his political opponent
Sources said today that Hudson County Sheriff Juan Perez has fired Undersheriff Frank Schillari, who is expected to run against him in the June 6 Democratic primary election.
In recent months, several Hudson County political heavyweights have switched their allegiance from Perez to Schillari, for reasons unspecified.
Supporters of Perez have complained about the fact that Schillari was heard talking to a reputed mobster on an FBI tape several years ago, although no more facts were given in newspaper stories about the incident. Schillari has not commented on it.
His spokesman has said that the tape recording should not be an issue in the campaign, as it was “thoroughly reviewed by law enforcement” and no wrongdoing was found.
After Friday’s firing, former Undersheriff Schillari’s spokesman responded with a statement. The statement read: “Today, a highly regarded law enforcement professional was treated like a criminal by Sheriff Juan Perez. Hudson County Undersheriff Frank Schillari was fired today. He was given no legal notice. Sheriff Perez’s brother in law came into his office at 10:30 this morning with an officer from Internal Affairs and gave him a letter telling him he was being terminated immediately. He was told that there is no reason for his termination, no justification. No budget concerns. No performance issues. They demanded that he leave the premises immediately and watched while he packed his personal items. This was a cowardly and foolish act by Sheriff Perez. It is illegal to fire someone for political reasons. Schillari’s firing is clearly a political retaliation and a violation of his civil rights. Sheriff Perez should personally be held accountable, not the taxpayers of Hudson County.”
Healthcare legislation anticipated to impact Hudson County
Rep. Albio Sires cast his vote in support of healthcare reform last week, helping to pass legislation that is estimated to expand health care coverage to 95 percent of all Americans.
“This bill would expand health care coverage to the 23 percent of individuals currently residing in my district without health insurance,” said Sires. “And [it will] improve the health coverage of the 326,000 residents currently covered, as well as protect 900 families in the 13th District from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care”
This bill will immediately begin to hold insurance companies accountable by prohibiting them from dropping coverage when someone gets sick and bans them from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.
Also beginning this year, young adults will be able to remain on their parents’ health policies until they turn 26 and Americans who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition will be able to buy affordable coverage through a temporary high-risk pool.
Additionally, small businesses that provide coverage to their employees will be eligible for a tax credit of up to 35 percent of premiums.
“Perhaps one of the most important aspects of health care reform is the relief it will bring to 14,300 small businesses in the 13th District during these tough economic times,” said Sires. “No longer will these businesses need to choose between offering health coverage or laying off their workers.”
Eventually state-run health insurance exchanges will be created where individuals and small businesses can shop and compare prices and benefits of a variety of health care plans.
Medicare will be extended by at least nine years, which will assist in improving the program for the more than 72,000 beneficiaries in the 13th District alone.
Storm damage?
The city’s Office of Emergency Management is asking residents who experienced any damage to property as result of the recent storms, to document their information and send it to hobokenstormdamage@gmail.com or contact the city’s OEM office at (201) 420-5618 for assistance.
The information provided should detail the type of damage, date(s) on which it occurred, images, video, and any other related documentation. The storm damage information provided will assist the city in its efforts to seek storm assistance funds.
Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction
Hoboken’s Relay For Life is hosting their fifth Annual Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction on Wednesday, April 7 at 8:30 p.m. at Texas Arizona, 76 River St. (across the street from the PATH).
The event will benefit the American Cancer Society, but the group is seeking guys and gals between the ages of 21 to 35 to help raise money.
Anyone interested in participating can e-mail RFLhoboken@gmail.com and will be sent a brief questionnaire. The questionnaire must be completed by April 5, and participants should arrive at Texas Arizona by 8 p.m. for a meet and greet, dressed in business casual attire.
The auction starts at 9 p.m. and tickets for non-participants are $10 at the door or $5 in advance. For advanced tickets, please e-mail RFLhoboken@gmail.com, and you will be added to the advance ticket list. For those ordering tickets pre-event, you must arrive at 8:30 p.m. to be guaranteed entry. This fundraiser has reached capacity for the past three years, so please arrive on time. Checks (made out to American Cancer Society) and credit cards are accepted.
According to the organizers, the American Cancer Society is not responsible for what happens after a bachelor or bachelorette has been “purchased.” Dates are suggested but not required.
Last year, the auction raised over $7,000. For more information on Relay For Life or to get involved, visit website: www.relayforlife.org/hobokennj.
HoLa community event
The HoLa Charter School, Hoboken’s new dual-language school, is hosting a community event on Sunday, March 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club, 123 Jefferson St.
The school will have free interactive mini-lessons with a dual-language teacher, as well as children’s flamenco and soccer classes.
Administrators will give a progress update on the new school, as well as a brief presentation about HoLa for those unaware of their educational mission. Director Maria Acosta will also give an overview of curriculum development for next year.
Mile Square Theatre’s “Rounding Third”
The Mile Square Theatre, 720 Monroe St., will present the play “Rounding Third” by Richard Dresser. The show is a comedy about “baseball, little league, and what it means to win the game.”
The show is directed by Marc Stuart Weitz and starring Matthew Lawler and Liam Joynt.
The show will run from April 8-25; tickets are $25 or $15 for students and seniors.
On opening night, April 8, the theatre will donate half of the box office receipts to the local civic group, Project Play, an initiative to raise funds for the restoration of Church Square Park.
For more information, showtimes, or tickets, visit www.milesquaretheatre.org or call (201) 208-7809.
International trade seminar to be held in Jersey City
The Hudson County Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, River Terminal Development Company, NJCU Business Development Incubator, and the Jersey City Urban Enterprise Zone, will host a seminar on “Opportunity & Change 2010.”
The event will take place on April 16 at 10 a.m. at the Hank Gallo Community Room in the Lincoln Park Administration Building, Jersey City. Attendees will learn how international trade can become part of their business portfolio and received ideas and suggestions from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for financing projects and business development.
This event is free, however seating is limited and reservations are required by April 12. For more information or to RSVP, call (201) 369-4370 or director@hudsonedc.org.
New session for CASA volunteers
Hudson County CASA (court appointed special advocate) is currently recruiting volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to insure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes.
CASA and its volunteers speak for children in court, serve as fact finders for the judges and safeguard the interests of the children while they are in the foster care system.
Information sessions regarding the program and the role of volunteers will be held on April 6 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Room 901 of the Hudson County Administration Building at 595 Newark Ave., Jersey City.
Hudson County has over 750 children in foster care; most have been removed from their homes for abuse or neglect. For further information, please call (201) 795-9855, e-mail mveenhof@hudsoncountycasa.org or visit our website at: www.hudsoncountycasa.org.
Latino conference at NJCU
New Jersey City University, in partnership with the Latino Center on Aging (LCA), will host the conference “Latinos in N.J.: Removing Barriers to Community Well-Being” on Wednesday, April 7.
Co-sponsored by The Eastman Fund and the NJCU Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs, the conference will be held from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., beginning with registration from 9 – 10 a.m., in the North Lounge on the second floor of NJCU’s Michael B. Gilligan Student Union, 2039 Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City. Admission is free and open to the community.
For further information and/or conference registration, call Randi Fontañez, project assistant, at (201)200-2349 or e-mail her at rfontanez@njcu.edu.
Clarification
In a story two weeks ago, we noted that Board of Education member Maureen Sullivan voted against sending Hoboken High School students to compete in the Penn Relays. She actually spoke in favor of sending the students to compete; she was unhappy with the three-night, $3,000 trip. We also incorrectly reported that she is a member of the Finance Committee. She participated in some of their meetings but is not a member.