WNY can’t buy school unless it gets approval from Vatican
The town of West New York wants to purchase a private school to use to house some of its students, as its high school is hundreds of kids over capacity. But they must wait for approval from one of the highest authorities: the Pope.
The state’s School Development Authority has forwarded the West New York Board of Education’s application for the purchase of St. Joseph’s private school to Vatican City. The sale must be approved by the Pope because it belongs to the archdiocese of Newark.
“It’s just a formality,” Superintendent of Schools John Fauta said. “We don’t anticipate any problems.”
Once they receive papal approval, the SDA can then make their final decision. Fauta expects it will be made within the next year.
West New York’s Memorial High School contains approximately 1,800 students. In 2005, the NJSDA determined that the building was equipped to hold 918, leaving them 882 students over capacity.
If purchased, St. Joseph’s would become a “freshman/sophomore academy,” house between 700 and 800 students, and solve the overcrowding problem.
Lawsuit filed against Union City and Mayor Stack by former employee
Mateo Perez, who has served as an attorney for various Union City agencies, has filed a lawsuit, via his attorney Louis Zayas, against Union City Mayor Brian Stack, Stack’s civic association, one member of the Union City Housing Authority, and the UCHA itself alleging that he was fired from his job for exercising his right to freedom of speech and political association.
Perez has served as an attorney for Union City’s library board, Housing Authority, and Planning Board.
The lawsuit states that Stack allegedly made Perez feel his job depended on his contributions to the Brian Stack Civic Association.
The lawsuit also alleges that Stack has created a “pay to play culture” where, “based on the financial donations given to the Civic Association, Mayor Stacks [sic] directly or indirectly provides government benefits…not otherwise available to non-contributors or political supporter [sic].”
The suit cites specific incidents of this climate that Perez says he experienced, including allegedly being told to apprise a local businessman that his business would not open unless he bought tickets to a fundraiser.
“It’s completely baseless brought about by a money-hungry attorney,” Stack’s Spokesman Mark Albiez said Thursday. “It’s filled with lies and it’s stretching the truth. They’re using the judicial system as a platform to shake down the administration.”
Perez’ attorney, Zayas, has represented several former employees and police officers in local cities in their suits against town halls.
UC schools raise over $17K to aid residents displaced by eight-alarm fire
The Union City school system’s students and staff have stepped up to aid the victims of the eight-alarm fire that tore through six buildings, took one man’s life, and left over 50 residents homeless on Bergenline Avenue on Jan. 18 and 19.
They raised $17,545 via a fundraise in one day, according to Superintendent of Schools Stanley Sanger.
The schools normally hold what they term “Denim Day” around five times a year. On certain Fridays, students pay 25 cents and staff pay three dollars for the privilege of wearing jeans. Each Denim Day raises between five and six thousand dollars, Sanger said.
On the evening of Jan. 19, the school utilized their district notification system to announce that a special Denim Day would be held on Jan. 20 specifically to support the residents displaced by the fire – 18 of them students in the city’s school system – and to aid in their relocation. The money will be evenly dispersed amongst them.
“The students and staff really stepped up,” Sanger said Tuesday. “There was a great outpouring of love and support for those in the community.”
WNY employees to participate in National Wear Red Day for Women
On Friday, Feb. 3, West New York Town Hall employees will wear red in support of the American Heart Association’s ninth annual National Wear Red Day for Women to bring raise awareness about cardiovascular disease: the number one killer of females in both NJ and the U.S. According to the association, heart disease claims the lives of around 422,000 women each year, which is more than the next four top causes of death combined.
Town employees will have the option to donate $5 to the AHA for the privilege of wearing jeans or khakis to work. The funds raised will benefit research, education, and programs to help reduce the occurrence of heart disease in women.
Local author to promote biography about Tourette Syndrome at the WNY library
Weehawken resident Theresa Borrelli wrote a book last August called, “I Am Myself: A Woman Growing Up With Tourette Syndrome.” She will be talking about her work in a meet-and-greet atmosphere at the West New York Library, located at 425 60th St., on Monday, Jan. 30, from 3 to 5 p.m.
For more information, call the library at (201) 295-5135.
UC Board of Commissioners to present land use and zoning plan
Union City Mayor Brian Stack and the Board of Commissioners will present their new land used and zoning plan at a formal hearing on Wed., Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. at Washington School, located at 3905 New York Ave.
The renewed master plan and land use policy was written by interested residents who wished to serve on either committee and who collaborated to create the new policies.
Final registration offered for PPAC classes
Park Performing Arts Center at 560 32nd St. in Union City is offering its last week of registration for adult and children’s classes that will run from Jan. 21 through March 10. The late registration fee is $64 for children, $80 for adults.
You can register at 560 32nd St. or call (201) 865-6980 between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
WNY law will fine adults when kids drink in the home
The Town of West New York introduced a resolution Wednesday, Jan. 18, in conjunction with the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention State Block Grant Program called the “West New York Combating Underage Drinking Project.”
If approved, the resolution will allow police to write a citation and fine the owners of private residences who allow underage drinking in their homes, among other clauses pertaining to underage drinking.
Mayor Felix Roque was inspired to work with officials to form the ordinance by the Rebekah Verea Foundation: a teen driving education and awareness outreach program created by parents Lourdes and Jorge after their daughter Rebekah was killed on her graduation night in a car accident.
“Our goal is prevention, awareness, and to let people know there will be a penalty if people let children into their apartment and allow them to drink,” Roque said. “It’s another deterrent to underage drinking and will help prevent drunk driving as well.”
Town Attorney Gilberto Garcia stated that some of the other clauses in the ordinance will address the provision or purchase of liquor for a minor, and the underage possession of liquor in public places.
“What we’ve tried to do here is adopt a different set of resolutions that are not covered by state law by making them ordinance violations,” Garcia said. “It’s a little more ambitious than the statutes already in place, but we wish to give officials more leeway to ensure the safety of minors.”
The resolution will be up for approval during next month’s Board of Commissioners meeting.
Registration to be held for free performing arts classes
The Grace Theatre Workshop, Inc. will hold registration for its professional theatre training program for children ages 8 and up from Monday through Thursday, Jan. 23 to Feb. 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Jose Marti Freshman Academy, 1800 Summit Ave., Union City.
The workshop will provide free ballet, jazz, hip hop, salsa, tap/rhythm, singing, and acting classes.
To register, children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Registration fee is $25 per student, but classes are free and open to all Hudson County residents. All of the instructors are professional performers. Adult classes in Salsa dancing are also offered at no cost.
For information, call (201) 864-7149 or visit www.GraceTheatre.com.
Susan G. Komen Foundation to hold race for the cure
Approximately 10,000 people – including runners, walkers, visitors, volunteers and staff – are expected to be on site for the 2012 Komen North Jersey Race for the Cure on Sunday, May 6. Race Day activities will include a 5k timed run, a 5K walk and a 1.5 mile walk.
On Sunday registration opens at 7:30 a.m., the 5K Timed Run starts at 8:30 a.m., and the 5K/1.5 Mile Walk starts at 10 a.m. at the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange, N.J.
There will be a special Survivor Tent, Survivor Procession and Ceremony, an Expo area with free give-aways, an I AM THE CURE booth to learn more about breast self-awareness, food, a Komen for the Cure merchandise tent, and a Kids for the Cure area with face painting, a Moon Bounce, sand art, clowns and a coloring station.
Throughout the day, the ultimate American show band “The Infernos” will be performing from the Main Stage.
Since its founding in 1997, Komen North Jersey has awarded over $13 million in local community grants, and has directed approximately $5.9 million to the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program for breast cancer research.
Online registration is now open. For additional information, to register, volunteer, start a team, or make a donation, visit www.komennorthjersey.org/race, or call (908) 277-2904, ext. 14.