Free soccer classes for autistic children
The Soccer Learning Center, a popular local sports academy founded by Bayonne resident Alex Lalaoui, will be offering the area’s first professionally coached free indoor soccer program for autistic children this April in Jersey City.
Open to any autistic child between the ages of three and four, the new specialized program will be offered on Sunday mornings at the Golden Door School gym located at 180 Ninth Street in downtown Jersey City beginning on April 3. The program’s ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 9:15 a.m. that morning. The first class is already filled to capacity, and Lalaoui hopes to open more classes soon.
“Every child should have the opportunity to play the most popular sport in the world,” said Lalaoui, who holds the highest professional coaching credential available in the country, the United States Soccer Federation’s “A” license.
The classes will be specially designed to serve the specific needs of autistic clientele, and will include specific drills modified to appeal to the autistic learner.
Lalaoui credits several organizations in the community for helping bring the program to fruition. When Padraig Hennessey and Karl Halligan, the owners of O’Connell’s Restaurant in downtown Jersey City, heard about Lalaoui’s idea for the classes, they, along with Patrick McCarthy of Bayway World of Liquors in Elizabeth, hosted a Whiskey Tasting fundraiser in November. Enough money was raised at the event to keep the classes free for families – something Lalaoui hopes to continue with his future class offerings.
Lalaoui also reached out to the Hudson County Special Child Health Services in Jersey City, where Director Caroline Harpster helped spread the word to her client families, many of whom have children with autism.
One father, Daniel Perfeito of Harrison, is looking forward to his son Jathan, age 4, joining the new class.
“The idea of an instructional soccer program combined together with the children’s eagerness to learn are recipes for growth and success,” he said.
“It’s exciting to see this class just days away from really happening,” said Lalaoui, who has been working on establishing the free autism program for more than a year. “We have been fortunate to meet a lot of wonderful business owners, medical professionals, and families and we’re on track to bring a specialized new level of soccer instruction to the children of New Jersey.”
For more information about the academy, visit www.SoccerLearningCenter.com or call Melinda Vickerman at (201) 656-1156 or (201) 724-1732.
Softball double header to benefit autism program
The Port Authority police will face off against members of the Bayonne police and fire departments in the first of a double header on June 24 that will raise money for the Simpson Baber Foundation.
The second game will feature members of the Longshoremen ILA No. 1588 against members of the Bayonne Department of Public Works.
The first game will start at 5:45 p.m. at Gorman’s Field on West First Street in Bayonne.
Both groups hope to generate donations in the months before the game. Herbert’s Army and Navy is donating the printing on t-shirts for the event.
Donated prizes to be raffled off at the game include tickets to the Land of Make Believe, as well as a football Jersey donated by Miles Austin, which is autographed by the Dallas Cowboys.
A $5 raffle will also be held for a 42-inch plasma TV.
Peter Amadeo and Gary Chimielewski from the city’s Department of Public Works and Parks will provide equipment, such as speakers, microphones, tables, and chairs. Brian Boruch from The Rock Tavern in Bergen Point will open his business for after game celebrations.
All proceeds will benefit the Simpson Baber Foundation, P.O. Box 182, Bayonne, N.J., 07002.
For more information, contact Bill Weaver at (551) 689-9438 (cell) or (201) 823-9497 (home).
De Leo to speak at senior center
Hudson County Surrogate Donald W. De Leo will be addressing members of the Telephone Pioneers, a volunteer organization and service club made up of U.S. and Canadian telecommunications industry employees and retirees, on the subject of “new information on wills, living wills, living trusts and stories from the Hudson County Surrogate’s Court” on Wednesday, April 6, at 1 p.m. in the Bayonne Senior Center, Story Court and Fourth Street on the second floor.