One quarter of school district employees receive pink slips
Just days after Mayor Brian Stack and his incumbent Board of Commissioners won another four years in the municipal election, approximately 25 percent of the 1,700 employees in the Union City School District lost their jobs.
According to a local daily newspaper, by Friday, 450 non-tenured employees (210 teachers and approximately 240 non-instructional staff) received notice that they will be fired at the end of the school year.
School district officials have said that the layoffs are in response to the $8.45 million in state aid the district stands to lose next year.
District officials had until May 15 to let non-tenured employees know that they would not be brought back next year and Superintendent of Schools Stanley Sanger reportedly informed the Board of Education about the layoffs on April 29.
In a local daily newspaper, Sanger denied that the timing of the layoff notices was related to the election.
Union City does not have an elected board of education. Rather, the mayor appoints members of the board, which oversees the superintendent.
News reports have said that no administrators were fired in the process, but there may be some who are set to retire.
Sanger did not return a call for comment prior to press time.
Performing arts schools to host summer theater camp
The Park School for the Performing Arts will be hosting a summer musical theater camp performing Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” The five-week camp runs from July 6 to Aug. 12, Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The cost is $475 for the five weeks and is designed for fourth through eighth-graders to learn new skills, make new friends, and increase confidence. Registration is scheduled for May 22 at the Park School for the Performing Arts, on the third floor. Space is limited. For more information, call (201) 865-6980 or visit www.parkpac.org.
108th Cuban Independence Anniversary commemorated
West New York Mayor Silverio A. Vega and the Board of Commissioners will commemorate the 108th Cuban Independence Anniversary on May 20 at 7 p.m. in the Public School Four auditorium at 6300 Palisade Ave., West New York. All are welcome to attend. Food and refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the program.
A night of comedy at the Park Performing Arts Center
O n May 21 at 8 p.m. the Park Performing Arts Center will host Comedy Night in The Stage Club setting with colorful, dappled stage lighting and candle-lit tables. Comedian Brad Lowery will be featured at the event. Lowery has long been a favorite at colleges and universities across the country. He averages over 200 college performances per year, and was nominated for Comedian of The Year four times. He has also been seen on A & E’s “Caroline’s Comedy Hour,” “Star Search,” and “Showtime at the Apollo.” He has opened for Adam Sandler and Chris Rock and currently doing the audience warmup to “The Queen Latifah Show” on Fox.
Also performing is Mario Lucena. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the door. For more information, call (201) 865-6980 or visit www.parkpac.org.
Registration for WNY summer program kicks off
The West New York Recreation Department will begin registration for the 2010 summer program on May 17. It will be held Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at West New York Middle School, 201 57th Street. Interested participants must bring proof of address (most current electric bill, birth certificate, and report card).
Free health seminar on neck and shoulder pain offered
Palisades Medical Center will provide a free, bilingual health seminar on Non-operative Treatment of Neck and Shoulder Pain on May 19 at 6:30 p.m.
The featured speaker will be Daniel Mendez, M.D., who will discuss conservative treatment options that can relieve neck and shoulder pain without surgery, such as exercises, mobilization, and education in posture.
The seminar will take place at Palisades Medical Center, 7600 River Road, North Bergen. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. and the seminar will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Free parking is available and free transportation will also be provided from 60th Street and Bergenline Avenue starting at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served at the event.
For more information, contact Nikki Mederos at (201) 854-5702.
Free bird walk offered for all Hudson County residents
On May 18 at 10 a.m., the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon Society will host a free two-hour guided nature walk to the legendary Harrier Meadow in North Arlington. The walk will begin with a bird-banding demonstration.
The 70-acre site, usually off limits to the public, features ponds and tidal impoundments and birds aplenty. The group will meet at 10 a.m. at the entrance to Harrier Meadow on Disposal Road. To carpool, meet at the visitors’ parking lot at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst at 9:45 a.m. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute updates and weather advisories. For more information or to RSVP, contact Don Torino at greatauk4@aol.com or (201) 636-4022.