Board of Education election is Wednesday
Voters will have the opportunity to select three school board representatives on Wednesday, April 27. In an effort to get more voter participation there will be extended poll hours for the first time this year. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Incumbents Sue Mack and Frances O. Thompson are running for reelection. They are joined by eight other candidates on the ballot, including Carol Harrison-Arnold, Marvin Adames, Hiral Patel, Vidya Gangadin, Jayson Burg, Amanda Khan, Aurym Nunez, and Nabil Youssef.
During the election, voters will also have the opportunity to approve most of the school board’s proposed $630 million budget for the 2011-2012 school year, a budget that includes an annual tax increase of $32 for the average property owner.
United Way says ‘no thanks’ to museum bldg. buy
The website JerseyCityIndependent.com reported on Friday that plans for the United Way of Hudson County to buy the Jersey City Museum building at 350 Montgomery Street are now “dead,” according to an unnamed source.
Citing a memo which the website obtained, from Corporation Counsel Bill Matsikoudis to museum board members Mark Rodrick and James Kobak, the site reports that Sovereign Bank is likely to foreclose on the property soon.
United Way of Hudson County President Dan Altilio first publically expressed an interest in moving his organization to Montgomery Street in February, and later that month City Clerk Robert Byrne stated during a City Council meeting that, “The United Way is in the final stages of buying the museum.”
The city’s Division of Community Development went before the council on Feb. 23 to request approval to submit a package of Community Development Block Grant requests to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Among the funding requests made was a $212,000 grant to improve the heating and cooling system at the Montgomery Street facility in preparation for the United Way purchase of the building.
Empty Sky memorial benefit dinner scheduled for May 9
The New Jersey 9/11 Memorial Foundation volunteer Board of Directors are pleased to announce that their debut Empty Sky Memorial Benefit Dinner will take place on Monday, May 9. The event will be hosted by New Jersey’s 101.5 FM’s Dennis Malloy and featured musical entertainment Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard, and J. Robert Spencer – The Midtown Men, who are four stars of the original cast of “Jersey Boys.”
Beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 9, the Empty Sky Memorial Benefit Dinner will be hosted in the Grand Ballroom at the opulent Hilton, located in Short Hills N.J.
The cocktail hour with a Silent Auction benefiting the Empty Sky endowment will be followed with each guest’s individual choice of dinner – guaranteed to savor – when selected from a chef’s award-winning cuisine from the fresh, sophisticated menu and served in world class style at the chic Hilton Short Hills.
The first of kin volunteer staff who comprise the Board of Directors of the New Jersey 9/11 Memorial Foundation extend an open invitation to not only the families of 9/11, first responders, and 9/11 supporters and volunteers, but to the general public at large, private and corporate entities, as well as any others who are interested in attending or supporting this important event funding the endowment who would like to purchase tickets to attend this soiree. Simply visit www.nj911memorial.org for easy instruction on how to purchase these event tickets or to simply make a donation. Ticket purchases, table purchases, and donations can be paid for easily via PayPal on their website.
For reservations and assistance with website online credit card donation payments, contact Rick Cahill at (862) 485-0580 or via email at chairmannj911memorial@hotmail.com; or Faith Miller at (732) 816-7830 or via email at faith.nj911memorial@gmail.com.
Green fashion show
The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) Green Fashion Show and Sale will be the place to be on Sunday, May 1 for the latest eco-friendly, natural, and organic fashions, food, jewelry, and health and beauty products. The event is scheduled for 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the NJMC’s Meadowlands Environment Center. Fashion shows, featuring professional models and NJMC staff and their children, are scheduled for 1:45, 2:45 and 3:45 p.m.
The free show features innovative green fashions and accessories for toddlers to adults, more than a dozen door prizes and Whole Foods gift bags for the first 100 guests. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, the sale presents an ideal opportunity to find attractive and unique items made with the environment in mind. The majority of the participating vendors are based in New Jersey. Nationally-renowned companies, including Eileen Fisher Eco-Designs, are also participating.
The show features the latest eco-friendly toddlers and children’s clothing from Vivi Bambini, one-of-a-kind fashions for all ages from La Casita, and hand-crafted jewelry and handbags made from recycled and natural material from Terra Trendz.
Additional exhibitors include M721 Organics, which specializes in environmentally-friendly tee-shirts, scarves, pullovers and tunics, and Poof’s Closet (Rutherford), which offers organic cosmetics and bath and body products. A tasty array of fruits, vegetables and other goodies will be available for purchase from the Glen Ridge-based Purple Dragon Co-Op. NJMC is at 1 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.
Emergency funding available for PSE&G customers
Customers who are struggling to pay for their winter heating bills will have until May 2 to file for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds.
Those have already qualified for this assistance this past winter may no longer qualify for it again, but may be eligible for an additional $450 to be applied toward their utility bill.
To see if your household qualifies under the guidelines and where to apply, visit www.pseg.com/help or call 1(800) 510-3102 Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Applications are also available at the PSE&G’s 16 walk-in customer service centers listed on your bill.
Customers who apply for LIHEAP help are automatically screened for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ Universal Service Fund (USF), a program that could take up to $150 off of their bill each month.
Those who do not qualify for assistance may visit www.pseg.com/help for other forms of assistance.
Bayonne acting school opened to all
Registration for David Neustein of Neustein Entertainment’s spring acting class will begin on Saturday, April 30 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Classes will take place at St. Henry’s Church School, located at West 28th Street and Avenue C in Bayonne.
The cost is $100 for current students and 4125 for new students. Those attending do not need to be Bayonne residents.
For more information and to register for class, visit www.neusteinentertainment.com/education or call (973) 698-4602.
Park Players seeking actors
The Park Players, a Hudson and Bergen County theatre troupe, are seeking several roles for their upcoming “And There was Nun,” a campy Hollywood murder mystery. The show will be performed on July 22, 24, 29, and 30.
They are currently casting roles for Alfred Hitchcock, Vivien Leigh, Joan Crawford, Gloria Swanson, Katherine Hepburn, and Talullah Bankhead.
For an appointment, call Director John M. Fiorenza Conklin at (201) 736-0878.
‘Zoo that visits you’ is coming
The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission is scheduled to host “The zoo that visits you,” a visit from Bucks County Zookeeper “Jungle Joe,” who will show the cool and unusual traits of 15 animals on April 30 at 1 p.m. at the Meadowlands Environment Center in Lyndhurst, N.J. Tickets are $5 per person and $4 per Meadowlands Environment Center member.
For more information, call (201) 460-8300 or visit www.njmeadowlands.gov/ec.