JC Fridays returns again
JC Fridays, the four-times-per-year citywide celebration of free arts and culture, is back this coming Friday, June 4. Programs include art openings and exhibits, spoken word, music, dance, film/video screenings, theater and alternative performance, and they are all free to the public.
The series was launched in spring 2005 by a group of Jersey City artists, arts organizations, and business owners to better promote the arts in the city. Since its inception, the number of participating venues has increase greatly thanks to increased outreach efforts.
Sponsors of JC Fridays include The Jersey City Reporter, Jersey City Magazine, and Mayor Jerramiah Healy and the Jersey City Municipal Council.
For more information about JC Fridays, please visit www.jcfridays.com or email info@jcfridays.com.
Hamilton Park reopens to the public
Hamilton Park, located in downtown Jersey City, reopened on Thursday after a $3.2 million renovation with new and restored elements that includes a fountain, a spray park, light poles, two dog runs, basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds, an amphitheater, and a community garden.
Mayor Jerramiah Healy presided over the re-opening and ribbon-cutting with a performance by the McNair Academic High School Chorus and comments from various guests.
Healy said the renovations were completely funded by the city with taxpayer money.
Happy to see the park open after being closed for over a year was Amy Ertel from the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association, who thanked all the members of the association and officials including City Councilman Steven Fulop for helping them get the park renovation off the ground.
Developer Paul Silverman, who along with his brother Eric developed the Hamilton Square residence located near the park, thanked every retail outlet and the persons involved in the renovation project.
Jersey City man found stabbed to death in home
Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said on Monday that a 68-year-old Jersey City man was found stabbed to death multiple times in his home last Saturday morning.
DeFazio said Robert Murphy was found dead in his Bergen Avenue apartment around 3 a.m. after his son entered the apartment and found his father’s bloodied body. DeFazio said the stabbing may have taken place hours before Murphy’s body was discovered.
DeFazio said there was no forced entry into the apartment and Murphy may have known his attackers, as it is believed that more than one person was involved.
DeFazio said Murphy was a private security officer who was in “vibrant health” at the time of his death.
Anyone with information on the stabbing can call the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Homicide Squad at (201) 915-1345.
Four men charged with murder in JC killing
Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said last week that four men arrested on May 21 face murder charges in connection with the death of 25-year-old Jersey City man.
DeFazio said Damont Lester was shot in the head while sitting in a Dodge Intrepid parked near the corner of Bergen and Bidwell avenues at around 10 p.m., when several shots were fired from a black, four-door Buick. Lester died on Sunday after being taken off life support by his family.
DeFazio said police, who were in the area on patrol, quickly apprehended the suspects after a car chase.
The four men – Thomas Borders and Rashaad Glover, both 22, Laquan Borders, 21, and Kenneth Fant, 20 – were in court Monday, DeFazio said, initially on attempted murder charges as well as various weapons charges.
Authorities found a .40-caliber Glock handgun and a .380-caliber handgun in the Buick, and .380-caliber shell casings were found at the crime scene.
DeFazio said investigators believe the shooting of Lester may have been done in revenge for another shooting that occurred earlier that day.
Anyone with information on the shooting of Damont Lester can call the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Homicide Squad at (201) 915-1345.
Full scholarships are available for ecosystem education
Honeywell and New Jersey Audubon have announced that scholarships are available for the third annual Honeywell Institute for Ecosystems Education, a program for Hudson and Bergen County middle and high school science and social studies teachers. The Honeywell Institute for Ecosystems Education is a one-week (August 16 – 20) summer institute, which combines classroom instruction with diverse outdoor experiences at sites throughout the Hackensack watershed.
Twenty-eight teachers will receive free tuition for the summer institute, classroom resource materials, a monetary stipend for program completion and 30 hours of professional development credit. The program is aligned with New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards in Science and Social Studies.
Registrations are due by this coming Friday, June 4. Teachers who are interested in applying can visit www.njaudubon.org/SectionEducation/HoneywellInstituteforEcosystemsEducation.aspx or call (609) 861-1608 x13.
PACO holds 40th anniversary benefit
On Friday, June 4, PACO (Puertorriquenos Asociados for Community Organization) will be celebrating 40 years of service to the community.
The celebration will take place at the Westin Hotel Jersey City/Newport starting at 6 p.m. with cocktails, open bar, full course dinner, and live entertainment. PACO does not have an annual banquet but instead every five years it celebrates its accomplishments and its many services.
For additional information and tickets, call (201) 963-8282.
Dominican Mother’s day event is Sunday in JC
The Jersey City Juan Pablo Duarte Dominican Parade and Festival Association will hold its Dominican Mother’s day event on Sunday, May 30, at noon at the Dante Aligheri Society, 562 Summit Ave., Jersey City.
Tickets are $20 and the event will include music, food and refreshments. For more information, contact Gregory Malave at (201) 432-9498.