WHS band set for 2nd annual festival
On Nov. 14 at 2 p.m., the Weehawken High School Marching Band Festival will take place at Weehawken Stadium. There will be performances of marching bands from area high schools including the award-winning Weehawken High School Marching Band. A $5 donation is requested at entry. For more information, call (201) 422-6130 or visit www.weehawken.k12.nj.us
Weehawken resident and author to give reading at library
Weehawken resident and author Joanne Hoersh will visit the Weehawken Public Library on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. for a reading from her first play, Jackson is Gone.
Through the characters of Natalie and Sam Grayson, the play examines the nature of irreparable loss, the consequences for our lives, and the slow disappearance from the world of the ancient touchstones we rely on for comfort and sustenance.
Hoesch graduated from Columbia University’s certificate program, where she received a Woolrich scholarship and won the 1998 fiction award from their writing program. Her short stories have been published in The Crescent Review, the Bayberry Review and Shakespeare’s Monkeys.
For more information call the library at (201) 863-7823.
Get ready for a taste
Theodore Roosevelt School will host their culinary event, “A Taste of Roosevelt,” on Nov. 19 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the school, 1 Louisa Place in Weehawken.
The all-you-can-eat annual “Taste” features dishes from around the world. In addition to the food, raffles and prizes will also be featured during the evening.
The cost is $8 for adults and $3 for children. Children under the age of 5 will be admitted for free. All proceeds will go to the children and the Parent Teacher Organization of Theodore Roosevelt School.
For more information, call the school at (201) 422-6140.
Local talent showcase to be held on Park Avenue
On Nov. 27, “Reflecting the Current,” a showcase of local talent will be held at Mexico Lindo Lounge, 3603 Park Ave. The event will feature an art exhibition and live painting by Ark, performances by Jim Brown, Santana, Infinite Mind, Nikki Graffiti & E, Internal Quest, Anadelia, Caridad Rivera, and many more. There will also be free giveaways and a raffle. All ages are welcome to the show, hosted by Physical Graffiti and DJ Statement, which will include an open mic session.
First food pantry a success, help needed for Nov. 20
Dvine Konektion Community Development Corporation has announced that over 250 households were served during their inaugural food pantry distribution, held on Oct. 2. According to representatives from Dvine Konektion, almost half of those families are currently unemployed. Another 35 percent were employed either full-time or part-time but did not have an income sufficient to make ends meet.
Representatives said that the event was a success thanks to the help of volunteers and various donors including Applebee’s of North Bergen, Costco, El Unico Restaurant, Evelio Photo, Extra Supermarket, Heaven’s Helpers, Home Depot of North Bergen and Secaucus, Kohl’s of Secaucus, La Fe, Little Darlings Daycare, Lowe’s of North Bergen, Mave Rave, Panera of Denville, Precision RF, Sam’s Club of Secaucus, Shoprite of Union City, Target of North Bergen, and Wegmen’s Grocery Store.
Dvine Konektion, located in West New York, serves the towns of Guttenberg, North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken, and West New York.
In addition to giving out free bags of groceries, they also partner with other local non-profits, state agencies, and businesses to provide services to those in need.
The next food pantry distribution will be on Nov. 20, during which non-perishable groceries will be given away and several organizations will provide services on site free of charge.
Over 500 people are expected to be in attendance at the next event and Dvine Konektion is still in need of some critical items including: pancake mix, cereal, oatmeal, tuna fish, canned ham and sausages, boxed or bagged rice, spaghetti, macaroni, and frozen turkeys.
Anyone wishing to give a donation of items or financial donation can contact Dvine Konektion at (201) 617-4484. Donations are tax deductible and are accepted Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Other hours are available upon request. Dvine Konektion is also currently accepting donations of gently-used clothes, shoes, and baby items.
Residents invited to take part in “world’s largest Christmas project”
Iglesia Bautista Betania in Union City will serve as a collection point for Operation Christmas Child during “National Collection Week” from Nov. 15 through Nov. 22.
Operation Christmas Child, which is being called the world’s largest Christmas project, sends shoe box gifts to children in countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine, and poverty.
The program uses tracking technology that allows donors to “follow your box” to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need.
Donations can be brought to Iglesia Bautista Betania, 911 22nd St. in Union City on the following days and times: Nov. 15 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Nov. 16 and 17 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Nov. 18 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Nov. 19, 20, and 21 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Last year, Iglesia Bautista Betania collected 1,020 boxes for the worldwide Operation Christmas Child effort. This year, volunteers hope to collect more than 1,100 gift-filled shoe boxes from families, kids, churches, schools, and civic organizations throughout the area.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, a project of international relief and Christian evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, has delivered more than 77 million gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children in some 130 countries.
Volunteers are needed to prepare, pack, and process the gift boxes. For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 1 (800) 353-5949 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.
Applications being accepted for Hispanic Business Council Scholarship
The Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation of NJ, Inc. (HBCSF) announced that applications are now being accepted for the annual scholarship and book stipend awards for current college and college-bound Hispanic students for the 2011-2012 school year.
Open to all New Jersey residents of Hispanic heritage, the current application can be accessed through www.hbcsf.org. Applications and all required information must be postmarked by Feb. 28, 2011. Scholarships of up to $4,000 each will be disbursed directly to the college or university of the student’s choice. In addition to tuition scholarships, HBCSF also awards $1,000 book stipends.
In order to be eligible, a student must remain enrolled full-time at an accredited college, university, community college, or trade school in the United States and maintain a 3.0 GPA. Scholarship recipients will be required to complete 80 hours of community service between June 2011 and June 2012.
Interviews and the final award selection will be completed by the end of March, and the scholarships will be presented at the Foundation’s 20th Annual Scholarship Gala on May 12, 2011.
The HBCSF is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization with a mission to advance the educational aspirations of Hispanic students so that they may become professionals, leaders, and valued citizens of the community.
Since 1993, HBCSF has awarded $286,000 to 104 students. Information about the scholarship, previous scholarship recipients, and the organization’s gala can be accessed at www.hbcsf.org or requested by e-mail to info@hbcsf.org.