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Hudson County Schools of Technology end athletic programs

Officials at the Hudson County Schools of Technology – the county’s public schools – formally informed the parents of their respective student/athletes that the current high school athletic programs at County Prep in Jersey City and High Tech in North Bergen will cease operations at the end of the current school year.
The decision to officially end the respective athletic programs at the schools was made late Thursday afternoon.
“It’s really tough,” said Richard Myrlak, the supervisor of athletics for the Hudson County Schools of Technology and the Hudson County Board of Education secretary. “We’re talking about people, jobs, programs, kids. It’s about the kids. As you can tell, the kids are very upset. As of right now, it’s a done deal.”
The move comes three weeks after all 12 Hudson County mayors unanimously supported a proposal that eliminated the funding for the two athletic programs, citing duplication of services and allegedly illegal recruiting activities as the main reason.
From that point on, there were ongoing negotiations between the municipalities, Hudson County representatives, the Hudson County Board of Education and the Schools of Technology, but they could not come to an amicable and serviceable funding agreement.
“I cannot comment on the negotiations,” Myrlak said.
So the Schools of Technology, unable to fund the athletic programs on their own, decided to eliminate athletics in order to stay open. It’s also part of the massive cutbacks in educational services proposed by Gov. Chris Christie. The Hudson County Schools of Technology will lose a reported $4.7 million in state funding in the next fiscal year, already forcing the school to lay off almost 40 teachers and staff members, as well as eliminate the adult high school education program.
Some of the local mayors justified their insistence to end the programs.
“Under these economic times, the Schools of Technology are operating duplicated services,” North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco said. “It’s costing our towns way too much money, so we believe that the student-athletes should be able to come back to their hometown schools to play. They already do that in football, so why can’t they do it in other sports?”
Currently, if a County Prep or High Tech student-athlete wants to play football, he can at his hometown school, because the two county-run schools do not offer football. However, if they play other sports, they do so for their respective schools – with the towns fitting the bill.
“The estimated cost for both schools in the athletic budget is $550,000,” Sacco said. “But in a town like Weehawken, it’s already at $250,000. The big cost comes in transportation. You can’t even imagine how much this costs. Our cost in North Bergen right now is $70,000 in transportation just to and from games. But these kids at the Schools of Technology get transported home to their doors after practices and games. There are as many as 10 buses out there taking kids home from both schools. It’s an athletic program that is phenomenally expensive.”
Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner wholeheartedly agreed.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had all 12 mayors agree on something so fast,” Turner said. “We got together and signed this letter within three hours. It was unprecedented.”
Turner believes that the Schools of Technology athletic programs are recruiting the best athletes to attend their schools.
“I know that they are recruiting the top athletes from all the different towns in the county,” Turner said. “There is no reason for them to be competing for athletes. This is done for the egos of the adults running the programs.”
Turner believes that the money given to the Schools of Technology could be spent in better ways.
“In today’s economy, the emphasis should be on jobs,” Turner said. “Those students should be receiving training for jobs, not duplicating already what we do in our schools.”
Hudson County Schools of Technology Superintendent Frank Gargiulo was not in his office Friday morning and could not return calls.
Apparently, the student/athletes can continue to attend their respective HCST schools in the future, but if they want to compete in athletics, they will have to do so in their respective home school districts.
“There are going to a lot of tough decisions being made by these kids in the coming months,” Myrlak said. “Logistically speaking, it’s going to be an issue for some of them to compete at other schools.”
It would mark the end of some of the best athletic programs in Hudson County. The High Tech softball team, which has won the last two NJSIAA state sectional championships, becoming the only Hudson County program ever to do so, has become a local powerhouse. High Tech’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams have been very strong, as has their soccer program.
County Prep won the NJSIAA state sectional baseball title last spring and has also been a staple of athletic success with its softball, basketball and track and field programs.
Myrlak said that the Schools of Technology might look into the possibility of forming “lifestyle” sports programs, like offering judo which High Tech currently does.
“Or we could offer sports that other schools don’t offer,” Myrlak said. “But that’s only if the economy changes. We have to right now worry about seeing how far we can go to run the schools, but I believe the schools will go on.” – Jim Hague

Manzos charged with additional count of mail fraud

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman announced on Thursday that a federal grand jury has returned a seven-count Superseding Indictment against former Jersey City mayoral candidate Louis Manzo and his brother Ronald that adds one count of alleged mail fraud to the original, six-count indictment returned in October.
Fishman said the Manzos devised a scheme to allegedly defraud candidates running for Jersey City council of $27,500 in cash payments received from the cooperating witness in the case, Solomon Dwek, payments which the Manzos allegedly intentionally concealed from the candidates and the campaign committee treasurer.
The additional mail fraud count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The government is also seeking forfeiture of the $27,500 in corrupt payments.
The charge comes weeks after Manzo held a press conference in Jersey City where he accused former U.S. Attorney and now Gov. Christopher Christie, along with other attorneys working under Christie, with using the arrests of political officials like Manzo as well as religious leaders last July 23 to help boost the election of then-candidate Christie.

Healy receives ‘admonishment’ from state Attorney Ethics Board

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy received an official admonishment from the state’s Supreme Court Disciplinary Review Board last week, according to a report on nj.com.
The warning was a response to his arrest in June 2006 outside a bar in Bradley Beach, which led to his arrest and subsequent conviction for resisting arrest and obstruction of a police investigation.
Healy will not have to serve any sentence due to the admonishment. After he was convicted, he paid an $850 fine.

Judge dissolves Hudson County SPCA

According to a news report, Hudson County Superior Court Judge Thomas Olivieri officially dissolved the Hudson County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (HCSPCA) last week. The SPCA was one of two animal shelters in Jersey City, but it dealt with many complaints until it failed health inspections and was shut in 2008.
The official dissolution came after suits were filed against the HCSPCA, President Hector Carbajales, and Carbajales’ wife, Zoe, by the NJ Attorney General’s office, joined by the animal rights group, Hudson Animal Advocates, and the Jersey City Division of Health.

Classical music concert in JC

Con Vivo Music, Jersey City’s chamber music ensemble, presents the second annual Spring Strings festival with a trio of concerts by quartets and quintets.
This Sunday, April 25, at 4 p.m., the Bryant Park Quartet plays at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 440 Hoboken Ave., in Jersey City. The concert is free of charge. Parking is available behind the church.
Bryant Park Quartet (BPQ) was formed in 2006 by graduates of Julliard, New England Conservatory, Oberlin, and Rice University. For more information, call (201) 320-5154.

Lunch & Learn at HCCC

The Hudson Chamber of Commerce and Hudson County Community College presents Lunch & Learn on Thursday, April 29 from noon to 2 p.m. at the college’s Culinary Conference Center, 161 Newkirk St., Jersey City.
The special guest speaker is Bill Graham, who will speak on the following topic: “Likeability & Storytelling – Power Tools for Successful Communication.”
Registration fee (includes lunch): Hudson Chamber Members, $30. Future Members, $45. Pre-register for the event no later than April 27.
Contact Janet Estremera by e-mail at Janet.Estremera@hudsonchamber.org or call (201) 386-0699, ext. 27. Parking is available at Impark Parking Garage directly across the street from the Culinary Center. Receive $2 off parking with validation stamp from the Center. Easily accessible to the PATH, two blocks from the Journal Square Station.

Fulop guest speaker at JC synagogue

Jersey City Councilman Steven Fulop will speak on ethics at Congregation B’nai Jacob, 176 West Side Ave., in Jersey City on Friday, April 30, at 8 p.m. It is the third and final 2009-2010 Speaker Series event at Congregation B’nai Jacob.
Fulop, who is expected to run for mayor in 2013, will speak on the topic of “Ethics and Politics” directly following a brief Friday Night Live! Sabbath evening service. An Oneg Shabbat reception with the councilman will follow services. All in the community are welcome and there is plenty of free parking.
For more information, contact Marsha Dubrow at (201) 910-4334 or email: marsha.dubrow@gmail.com

Friends of Liberty State Park annual luncheon

The Friends of Liberty State Park will celebrate volunteerism and open space at its fundraising luncheon on Sunday, May 2, from noon to 4 p.m. at Liberty House Restaurant, 76 Audrey Zapp Drive (inside Liberty State Park).
Hors d’oeuvres and cash bar will be available from noon to 1:00 p.m. and luncheon from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
This year’s honorees are Maureen Ogden, one of New Jersey’s environmental heroes of the last thirty years; Freeholder Bill O’Dea; Jersey Cares, which links volunteers to park gardening; Ted Lai, advisor to the Honor Society at Hudson College Community College; longtime park activist Nikki Sirken, and Iome Alexander, a dedicated gardening volunteer.
The luncheon is $60 per person at the door with checks payable to The Friends of Liberty State Park. Checks can be mailed The Friends of Liberty State Park, P.O. Box 3407, Jersey City, N.J. 07302
For more information, check www.folsp.org or call (201) 792-1993. Call by Wednesday, April 28 if you plan to attend.

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