UC residents invited to summer block party on Tuesday
Union City will be holding a Neighborhood Concert & Block Party on July 20 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on 39th Street between Park and Hudson avenues. There will be live music by “Rumba & Fuego,” clowns, show for kids, free hot dogs and soda, and activities for children.
Admission is free and chairs are provided. Everyone is invited to attend.
WNY and UC to participate in National Night Out Against Crime
As part of National Night Out, on Aug. 2, West New York will host a free night of food and entertainment at the town pool, located at 60th Street and River Road, beginning at 7 p.m.
Union City will participate in the annual nationwide event on Aug. 3 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with events along New York Avenue between 22nd and 29th streets. There will be three stages with live music. Stage 1 (at 29th Street) will feature the musical groups Rene D’Leon, Papo Ortega & Cubanoson” and Oro Solido; Stage 2 (at 23rd Street) will present three shows including The Call Me Crazy Orchestra – a show for children; Rosario & Her Stars, a dance concert featuring The TapOlé Dance Company; and the band Just Listen. Stage 3 (at 25th Street) will feature the musical group The Alan Quinn Band.
There will also be a boxing rink with boxing exhibitions by the Union City Boxing Club, a Karate Demonstration by the Union City Karate Program, a classic car exhibit, an art exhibit by the Union City Artist Collective, and a Union City History Table, as well as many activities for children. Free hot dogs and soda also will be provided.
Hudson Restaurant Week returns with 12 new restaurants
The summer is here and that means dining out and the return of Hudson Restaurant Week, a bi-annual culinary celebration of the county’s premier dining destinations.
Hudson Restaurant Week, which takes place from July 26 through Aug. 6, provides diners with a variety of local selections and lots of great deals. According to business owners, Restaurant Week helps during a slow time of year by bringing in new customers and providing an opportunity to showcase their menus.
Twelve new restaurants are participating this year.
The eateries involved include Chart House, Dino & Harry’s, Hamilton Inn, Clam Broth House, Amanda’s, Casa Dante, South City Grill, 3Forty Grill, Zylo, Edwards Steakhouse, and Light Horse Tavern.
Attendees looking for a taste of culture can find diverse offerings from ethnic restaurants such as Indian food from Amiya in Jersey City, Thai options from More, Sky Thai and Sawadee, and even Hibachi at Teppan Bar & Grill.
For a complete list of participating restaurants and menus visit www.hudsonrestaurantweek.com.
The Park Players will host fundraiser
The Park Players, a community theater group from Northern New Jersey, will host a fundraiser on Aug. 14 and Aug. 15 to benefit Arlene Louise Shapiro, the beloved mother of Phyllis (a Park Player member) and Cheryl Shapiro. Arlene suffered a stroke in February 2010 which left her in a vegetative state. Her daughters are trying to raise $100,000 for the medications and treatments necessary to attempt to wake her up, with the help from a researcher.
The fundraiser will take place Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. and August 15 at 3 p.m. at The Point Diner, 160 Bergen Boulevard, in Fairview. The cost will be $6 for adults, $5 for seniors/students, and $3 for children up to age 7, plus the cost of food at menu prices. Entertainment will include singing, tap dancing, comedy, and group medleys.
Donations can also be sent to The Shapiro Fund, 55l4 Oregon Ave., Cliffside Park, NJ 07010. For more information, contact Phyllis Shapiro at (201) 786-3173.
Christie signs property tax cap bill into law
Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation last week that will cap local property tax increases at 2 percent. Under the new law, towns won’t be able to raise property taxes more than 2 percent unless they get voter approval to do so. The law does allow some exceptions, however. For example, increases in health care premiums are not subject to the cap.
Originally the governor had proposed a constitutional amendment to cap local property taxes at 2.5 percent. Christie’s proposal included only one exemption. The Democratic-controlled Assembly and Senate proposed a 2.9 percent cap that included several exemptions. The Democratic proposals also made the cap a law, but not a constitutional amendment.
Ultimately, the two sides compromised. The cap was dropped to 2 percent, includes more exemptions than Christie had wanted, but fewer than the Dems’ proposals. Christie also abandoned the requirement that the cap be a constitutional amendment.
Days after the compromise bill was signed by the governor, the state announced that costs for municipal workers in the state health plan will rise 11.7 percent next year, according to the Star-Ledger newspaper. Since health insurance premiums are among the exceptions to the tax cap, analysts believe the 11.7 percent increase will be passed on to voters.