UCPAC to host ‘Haunted;’ a show about love
Mayor Brian P. Stack & Board of Commissioners proudly present “Haunted,” a show about love, unrequited love, and love on the way, featuring Marcus Simeone on vocals. Tracy Stark is both musical director and pianist. Tony Romano will play guitar, and MaryAnn McSweeney will play bass.
“Haunted” will take place Thursday, March 8 at 7 p.m. at the Union City Performing Arts Center located at 2500 Kennedy Blvd. Admission is free and parking is available at the 23rd Street Parking Deck located on 23rd Street between Summit and Kerrigan avenues.
For more information, email info@UnionCityPAC.com.
Rotary Club/Palisades Health Fair to provide free health screenings
The Union City-West New York Rotary Club has teamed up with Palisades Medical Center to hold a Community Health Fair on Saturday, March 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the José Martí Freshman Academy located at 1800 Summit Ave. in Union City.
Bi-lingual (English and Spanish) health care professionals will be present to answer questions, and attendees will receive free samples and giveaways. Professionals will offer free screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and sleep disorders. For more information, please call Nikki Mederos at (201) 854-5702.
Two arrests made last week thanks to West New York’s new ‘Cops in Shops’ program
Two arrests were made last week thanks to West New York’s new “Cops in Shops” program, a government-funded program that places plainclothes police in liquor stores to prevent the purchase of alcohol by or for an individual under legal drinking age.
On Feb. 25, officers Robert Cirri and Richard Alvarado observed two male parties who appeared to be under legal age allegedly enter Hollywood Liquors at 6006 Park Ave. at 11:02 p.m. on Feb. 25, according to Lt. Monti. The officers witnessed a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old man allegedly remove alcoholic beverages from the store’s refrigerator and take them to the counter for alleged purchase.
Before the transaction was completed, the officers identified themselves and requested identification from both parties, Monti said. When the officers discovered their ages, both were placed under arrest and charged with unlawful purchase of alcohol under the legal age.
Both were released on summonses pending court appearances, Monti stated.
William V. Musto Cultural Center to host art exhibit
The William V. Musto Cultural Center, located at 420 15th St. in Union City, will host the opening reception of Liza Calache’s new art exhibit entitled “Let’s Go Crazy” on Friday, March 16 at 7 p.m. Calache will be present at the event to discuss her work.
Attendants will also be treated to a special performance by multi-award winning pianist, arranger, conductor, singer/songwriter Tracy Stark. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. Everyone in the community is invited to attend.
Union City to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Mayor Brian P. Stack and the Board of Commissioners will hold two events in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.
On Friday, March 16 at 12 p.m. at International Park located at 3700 Palisade Ave., the city will have a flag-raising ceremony. The mayor and commissioners will be present, the city’s Irish Persons of the Year will be introduced, and John Nisbet will play bagpipe music.
The Annual Senior Citizen St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon will be held on Saturday, March 17 at 12 p.m. at Jose Martí Freshman Academy located at 1800 Summit Ave. Refreshments will be served and there will be live music and entertainment.
Hispanic Youth Showcase to hold talent search in WNY
The nationally recognized Emmy Award winner and multi-Emmy nominated television special “Hispanic Youth Showcase” will hold auditions by invitation only at West New York Middle School located at 201 57th St. on Saturday, March 31, between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To enter the competition, contestants must ask a school teacher, music or dance instructor to nominate them with an e-mail recommendation letter sent to wsshowcase1@gmail.com by March 10. A DVD of the participant’s talent must be sent to Hispanic Youth Showcase 2012 c/0 William Q. Sanchez, Executive Producer, 179 Little St., Belleville, NJ, 07109 by March 20.
Entry categories include:
-Kid dancers, ages 4 to 7
-Junior Division, ages 8 to 12 (dancers, singers, and instrumentalists)
-Junior dance duo/trio, ages 8 to 12
-Teen Division, ages 13 to 17 (dancers, singers, and instrumentalists)
-Teen dance duo/trio, ages 13 to 17
-Group dance, ages 13 to 17
There is no entry fee. Finalists will be announced in late April. Call (856) 203-0533 for information.
State wins $469,500 in mortgage fraud lawsuit against defendants in Union City
N.J. Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa’s office announced Feb. 23 in a press release that the state has won a $469,500 lawsuit against two corporate defendants and two individuals from Union City accused of allegedly defrauding homeowners who had financial issues.
The release states that the defendants allegedly promised to help them keep their homes, then bought the properties for a discount and bound them to “sale-leaseback” agreements. They then allegedly evicted the homeowners and sold the properties to other buyers.
After a 10-day trial, Hudson County Superior Court Judge Thomas J. Olivieri found that defendants, Property Solutions of N.J., PSRE Holding Company, Edward Toledo, and Raymond Vega, violated the Consumer Fraud Act, the release said.
As a result of the court’s decision, the defendants have been ordered to pay the state $280,000 in civil penalties, and to pay three defrauded New Jersey homeowners a total of $189,500 in restitution. The defendants are also permanently forbidden to operate foreclosure-related businesses in New Jersey.
“These defendants promised struggling homeowners help, but in the end only helped themselves. For their callous exploitation of people in need, they are now – appropriately – being held accountable,” Attorney General Chiesa said in the press release.
“This is an important win on behalf of New Jersey citizens,” he continued, “not only because it provides restitution for homeowners who were harmed by the defendants’ actions, but because it sends a clear message that we will not tolerate this kind of predatory, greed-driven conduct.”
PERC to hold Welcome to Summer Gala
Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation, which runs a homeless shelter in Union City and offers various services for the needy in Hudson County, will hold its Welcome to Summer Gala fundraiser on May 22 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. atThe Graycliff, located at 122 Moonachie Rd. in Moonachie, N.J.
PERC will celebrate 31 years of providing shelter, food, services, and those in need in Hudson County with a cocktail hour, dinner, auction, and raffle.
For more information, contact PERC at (201) 348-8150 or e-mail events@percshelter.org.
Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation deadline approaches
The Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation of NJ, Inc. is accepting applications for the annual scholarship and stipend awards for current college and college-bound Hispanic students for the 2012-2013 school term.
The HBCSF, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, has a mission to advance the educational aspirations of Hispanic students to become professionals, leaders, and valued citizens of the community.
The current application can be accessed through www.hbcsf.org and is open to all New Jersey residents of Hispanic heritage. Applications and all required information must be postmarked by Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012.
N.Y. Giants Snow Bowl to benefit Special Olympics
The N.Y. Giants will team up with Special Olympics New Jersey to sponsor the sixth annual Snow Bowl Flag Football Tournament presented by Wyndham Worldwide on March 2 through 4 at MetLife Stadium.
The Snow Bowl, a six-on-six flag football tournament with light blocking, is played over three days and features recreational, competitive and co-ed divisions. Several of the registered teams will represent local police and fire departments. Each team was responsible for raising a minimum of $1,600 to play in the tournament, and many have gone above and beyond that.
Proceeds from Snow Bowl benefit Special Olympics New Jersey and help to support more than 22,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who train and compete, free-of-charge, year-round in 24 sports.
For more information on Snow Bowl or Special Olympics New Jersey, visit www.sonj.org.