To the Editor:
We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the tremendous support the Actors Shakespeare Company at NJCU received from the businesses and citizens of Bayonne for our first “Bard in the Park” event on Sept. 18 at 16th Street Park. Thanks to Mayor Mark Smith, Joseph Waks, Gary Chmielewski, and Pete Amadeo, whose help in organizing this event was most valuable, along with the staff of Public Works & Parks.
LongHorn Steakhouse has proven to be a good neighbor and the food prices were affordable for the families attending. The proceeds were gifted to the ASC. Buon Appetito allowed us to have a pre-festival dine-out to introduce the ASC to Bayonne.
Thanks to Barbara Beeman of Beeman, Bannon & Parrot, whose musicians were simply wonderful as the opening music for the event. Thanks to Lois Adlin and Karen Tsiranides for all the beautiful photos you took and posted up on Beyond Hypatia’s events page on Facebook for all to see.
Chief Robert Kubert, your officers that day presented a wonderful program on bike safety. Thanks to Mickey McCabe for sending down an ambulance for the children to inspect and learn about.
Thanks to Provident Bank for believing in this project and giving so generously. Your gift to the Actors Shakespeare Company was most welcome and appreciated. We thank the Bayonne Community Bank for their support. Thanks to Danielle Garcia for bringing her company, Quickreactive Inc., into this newly designed cultural event.
We also thank Debbie Browser; Diana Dzbenski; Linda Freeman; Frank Jakubowski; George Lynch; Stacey Lynch; Rocco Santopietro; Dariusz Slowikowski; and Dan Ward for all their help in setting up and arranging the games. Thanks to Larry Resnick. We thank all who volunteered their time and helped spread the word, making this event a success. Thanks to A&P; Blockbuster Video; Beautiful Nails; Elan Beauty Biz; Kuhl’s Bar and Grill; McDonald’s; Metrokutz; Mona Lisa Pizza; Pizzalianos; Pizza master; Pompeii Pizza; Stop & Shop; Tony’s Pizza; and San Vito Pizza, as well as the many others that contributed time and gifts to make this project a success.
The children were simply wonderful, their smiles enriching all. What better compliment to ASC than children watching the presentation of “All the World’s A Stage” with rapt attention and delight.
And last but not least, I wish to thank the ladies of the newly formed Beyond Hypatia Women’s Group for their dedication and determination to make “Bard in the Park” a reality.
The community involvement for “Bard in the Park” was a testament to what can be done when creativity and determination meet. We move forward hopefully bringing more of such cultural events to Bayonne.
Many thanks to Majora Fuel for their contribution as the project “Bard in the Park” was being put together.
CLAIRE GRECO