Union City Housing Authority receives subpoena from F.B.I.; attorney reports that records have been requested
Sources claim the Union City Housing Authority received a subpoena from the Federal Bureau of Investigations on April 30. On May 4, Housing Authority Director Virgilio Cabello confirmed the subpoena.
“We did receive a subpoena,” Cabello said. “I want to be very clear that the housing authority is not the intended target.” He could not discuss the matter further and referred the matter to authority attorney Libero Marotta. After a meeting with Cabello, Marotta said the housing authority has already turned records over to the F.B.I. and will continue to do so.
“There will be full cooperation from the housing authority,” Marotta said. “We don’t know what the subpoena is about because [the F.B.I.] has requested additional records which they’re currently putting together.”
The Reporter was also referred to Special Agent in Charge of Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General Cary Rubenstein, who said he could not comment on any investigative matter. On May 3, a representative from the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office could neither confirm nor deny the subpoena.
Four Hudson County high schools rank in U.S. News top 50 N.J. Best High Schools list
U.S. News recently revealed its top Best High Schools lists, and four Hudson County schools placed in New Jersey’s top 50.
Of 21,776 U.S. high schools, 82 New Jersey schools made the national list. Twenty-eight state schools were awarded gold medals, 23 received silver medals, and 31 received bronze.
According to usnews.com, Jersey City’s McNair Academic placed third in the state and 78th in the nation. North Bergen’s High Tech High placed 30th in the state and 508th in the nation, and Weehawken High School placed 44th in the state and 1,297th in the nation. West New York’s Memorial High School ranked at number 50 in the state, and 1,773rd in the nation.
The website reports that New Jersey has a total of 389 high schools, 294 school districts, 30,807 full-time teachers, and 421,215 enrolled students.
Union City to celebrate Cuban Independence Day
Mayor Brian P. Stack and the Board of Commissioners announce that Union City will be commemorating Cuban Independence Day on Friday, May 18 at 7 p.m. with a Cuban Cultural Program at Jose Marti Freshman Academy located at 1800 Summit Ave.
The event will include invited guest speakers, live music by the group “Habana 3,” a performance and art exhibit by Lourdes Simón, and typical Cuban food. Members of several local Cuban organizations are expected to attend the ceremony.
Among the persons being honored as “Distinguished Cuban-Americans of the Year” are Ivan Acosta, renowned film and theatre writer and director; and “Pipo” Felipe Martinez of the legendary musical group “Charanga 76.”
Admission is free. Everyone in the community is invited to attend.
St. Augustine School hosts fashion show, alumni reunion
Saint Augustine School, located at 3920 New York Ave. in Union City, will hold a fashion show in the gym on Friday, May 18 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10.
There will also be an alumni reunion in the school gym on Friday, June 1 starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and those between 21 and 100 years old may attend.
For more information, call (201) 865-0072.
WNY to hold community fair
The Dvine Konektion Community Development Corporation will host a community fair on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 5516 Jefferson St. in West New York. There will be a food pantry where bags of groceries will be distributed to families in need, and a baby pantry where items such as diapers, wipes and formula will be provided. There will be free diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure screenings; free diabetes testing supplies; and free cell phones and minutes (for those who qualify).
Representatives from the Community Food Bank of New Jersey’s Food Stamp Outreach division will be available to answer questions and help pre-qualify families for food stamp benefits and local restaurants will provide free lunch and coffee.
Residents of West New York, North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken and Guttenberg are welcome to attend. For more information, call (201) 617-4484 or visit www.dvinek.org.
Union City holds senior citizen Mother’s Day luncheon
Mayor Brian Stack and the Board of Commissioners will hold their annual Union City Senior Citizens Mother’s Day Luncheon on Saturday, May 12 at 12 p.m. in the cafeteria of Union City High School, located at 2500 Kennedy Blvd.
Transportation will be provided beginning at 11:15 a.m. from the following locations: 4545, 1104, and 3700 Palisade Ave., 3911 Kennedy Blvd., 1015 Central Ave., 1509 Bergenline Ave., 380 Mountain Ave., 49th Street and Hudson Avenue, and Bella Vista Apartments.
There will be food and entertainment, and admission is free for all adult residents. No children please. For more information, call the Senior Affairs Office at (201) 348-5701.
St. John’s presents “Revival Cabaret”
Arts at St. John’s will present “Revival Cabaret,” an exciting musical and comedy performance, on May 12 at 6:30 p.m. at 1516 Palisade Ave. in Union City.
Jazz pianist Mavis Pan and bassist Seth Glickman will perform from 6:30 to 7 p.m. during a Jazz Mixer. Beginning at 7 p.m., comedy, classical music, and clowns will collide to create an unforgettable evening.
“The show’s theme is an old fashioned tent revival,” said the show’s host Joe Kolbow in a press release. “We rehearse in the church and the show is performed there.”
The performance is part of the Arts at St. John’s program, a new venture between art makers and supporters in the community. The program aims to fill the sanctuary of St. John’s church with visual and performing arts programs throughout the year.
The “Revival Cabaret” will be hosted by Union City Comedy Duo Merril Garrick and Emmet (real-life Donovan Ensemble Co-Artistic Directors Joe Kolbow and Johnnie Niel).
Tickets are $10 and include a snack and two complimentary drinks. They may be purchased at brownpapertickets.com or by calling (800) 838-3006 in advance and cost $15 at the door. Reservations are requested.
Hudson County teens compete in music competition
On Thursday, May 24, Kishawn Jack of Jersey City and Luis Rolo of Union City will be two of 38 state performers to compete at the Eighth Annual Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s Shout Down Drugs Prevention Concert, presented by Comcast.
Jack and Rolo will perform their original songs “Drug Free” and “Drown in Drugs” at the statewide concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The New Jersey Shout Down Drugs music competition challenges high school students to create original music with lyrics that contain powerful peer-to-peer drug prevention messages. Students will compete for $10,000 in music contracts with the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey to perform their winning song at statewide events.
The program’s website, www.shoutdowndrugs.com, features profiles of this year’s finalists and allows the public to cast votes for their favorite songs. These results will be factored into the finalists’ scores on the night of the concert. Online voting is open until May 23. Tickets to the concert are free of charge, but must be reserved at www.shoutdowndrugs.com.
PPAC to hold 2012 Showtime Awards
The Park Performing Arts Center (PPAC), located at 560 32nd St. in Union City, will honor three recipients at the 2012 Showtime Awards on May 18 starting at 6 p.m. There will be refreshments and music until 7:30 p.m. when the awards ceremony will begin, and the after party, featuring Joyride, will start 8 p.m.
Ticket sales will help continue PPAC’s tradition of entertainment, education, and artistry and may be purchased at www.parkpac.org/showtime.
Union City to host artist awards
Mayor Brian P. Stack & Board of Commissioners will hold the first ever Union City Artist Awards on Friday, June 15 at 7 p.m. at the William V. Musto Cultural Center, located at 420 15th Street, Union City. The awards will honor the most talented and dedicated artists from all disciplines who have contributed to Union City’s artistic fabric.
The elegant red carpet event will feature live music by the group (U)nity, as well as various other guest performances.
Admission is free. Dress to impress.
UC designates honorary orchestra
The City of Union City, Mayor Brian P. Stack and Board of Commissioners have appointed the Union City Philharmonic Orchestra as the city’s honorary orchestra. The appointment was made at the commissioners meeting held on April 28.
The Union City Philharmonic Orchestra (formerly Hudson Philharmonic Orchestra) was established in Union City in November of 2011 with a very specific vision: to make a positive impact on the community, primarily through exhilarating, inspiring, and quality classical music performances and education. Union City Philharmonic Orchestra was co-founded by four passionate visionaries: Music Director/Conductor David Jeong, Assistant Music Director Jahye Kim, Orchestra Manager Yedeun Park, and Director of Education and Outreach Soo Park.
UC Philharmonic is committed to sharing their musical talents to inspire and to inform the importance of arts and music for a more holistic cultural development of society.
Everyone involved with the orchestra is deeply honored about the designation. They look forward to promoting classical music on a local and national level, as well as representing Union City and the state of New Jersey with honor and distinction.
For more info on the Union City art scene, visit www.UnionCityArtScene.blogspot.com.
Hudson Chamber partners with United Way in benefit event May 14
The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Hudson County are joining efforts to present “We Are Hudson – The Live Benefit” on Monday, May 14, at the Roxiticus Golf Club in Mendham beginning at 10 a.m. Two leaders, who have embodied the spirit of the Mary T. Norton, New Jersey’s first Congresswoman, will be honored: Joanne Bruno, vice president for Academic Affairs at New Jersey City University and Jean Quinn, vice president of Public Relations at The Provident Bank. Both honorees will be recognized for making outstanding contributions to the success of United Way programs in Hudson County. “The Chamber believes that a strong non-profit community is imperative to making the county a great place to do business,” said Maria Nieves, the Chamber’s president and CEO. “We’re pleased to join efforts with the United Way and support their mission to provide critical resources to the underserved in our community.” Founded in 1888, the Chamber currently represents more than 340 members, facilitates forums with local, state and federal officials, and provides a platform for business networking and partnerships. In its 76th year of service, the United Way mobilizes resources to affect positive, long-term change in the lives of homeless and impoverished men, women and children in Hudson County. The benefit event, proceeds from which will support both organizations, will include a day of golf and tennis. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the Mary T. Norton Awards Dinner is scheduled for 6 p.m. Individual dinner tickets are available.
To register for this event, contact the chamber: achinni@hudsonchamber.org.