Tebow says it ain’t so
FLORHAM PARK – “I don’t live in Hoboken,” Tim Tebow told reporters last week. “I’ve never even been in Hoboken.”
The New York Jet’s backup quarterback has put to rest rumors in recent weeks he has taken an apartment in the Mile Square City, according to reports on a variety of media, including Newsday.com, NJ.com, and The Star Ledger.
Tebow’s denial came as he met with reporters at the Jets training facility here.
In April, the New York Post reported the newest Jets QB was renting a place at 2 Constitution Court, a 13-story luxury condo building on the waterfront uptown.
Even before that report, rumors had been circulating, and even touched off an exchange between a prankster with the handle “HobokenTimTebow” and Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who issued a Twitter note threatening to alert the authorities and demanding that the newest Hoboken resident be given his privacy.
After which, Hoboken spokesman Juan Melli had to issue an “Oops, wait a minute!” follow up saying the mayor did not actually know if Tebow actually did live in town.
Well, now we know.
This Saturday: Everything Jersey City Festival
JERSEY CITY – This Saturday, May 19, the Everything Jersey City Festival will kick off on Central Avenue. Hosted by the Central Avenue Special Improvement District, Everything Jersey City will this year feature performances by the Hope Center for the Performing Arts, 407 Moves, students from County Prep High School, Emerald Fire Dance School, the Haesun Jung Korean Traditional Dance Academy, and the Jersey City Children’s Theater. In addition, the day-long 10-block festival will include food, more than 200 vendors, and four stages of live performances from Afrobeat musician Chico Mann, the Manhattan Dolls, Rumba Con Son, Swing Sabroso, McLean Avenue, the Audiobodies, Leah Le Grace, Go Falcon!, Christine Santelli, Woodfish, and the a cappella group Choice.
The festivities begin at 11 a.m. and go until 6 p.m.
Liberty State Park to honor Zapp
JERSEY CITY – This Saturday, May 19, Liberty State Park will honor Audrey Zapp, who passed away in January.
Known as the “godmother” of Liberty State Park, Zapp was among a handful of activists who spent years fighting for the creation and preservation of what is now Liberty State Park. Thanks to these efforts, what was once a run-down Central Railroad site is now a beautiful 1,100-acre urban oasis on the New York Harbor. In the late 1970s, Zapp joined the Liberty State Park Study and Planning Commission and became co-founder Friends of Liberty State Park after the park was created in 1976. As an advocate of open green space throughout New Jersey, Zapp’s interests extended beyond Liberty State Park.
She fought against the privatization of public lands and lobbied for Green Acres funding for Jersey City.
Saturday’s ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the park’s Nature Interpretive Center on Freedom Way. Zapp’s son, Rennie Zapp, will present a slide show about his late mother and speakers will pay tribute to her life and commitment to the environment. For more information, call the Friends of Liberty State Park at (201) 792-1993 or e-mail Sam Pesin at pesinliberty@earthlink.net.
Parking Enforcement officer reinstated after alleged sandwich extortion investigation
HOBOKEN – Parking Authority employee Kleber Vera, who was alleged to have issued parking tickets because a local deli delivery driver refused to provide him with free sandwiches, was reinstated on the job Monday after the charges against him were dropped.
Vera had been charged with official misconduct and theft by extortion and had been suspended without pay pending the disposition of the criminal court case against him in Hudson County Superior Court.
“Mr. Vera and his family went through a very difficult and very public process, and now that the charges against him have been dismissed, I welcome him back as an employee of the City of Hoboken,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer.
“Kleber Vera had a good work record prior to these events, and I’m happy to hear that his charges were dropped,” said Transportation and Parking Director Ian Sacs.
McNair Academy ranks 3rd in state in U.S. News Best High Schools list
JERSEY CITY – 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.
City will hold public meeting for Church Square Park improvements
HOBOKEN – The city will hold a community meeting Thursday, May 17 to gather public input on improvements to Church Square Park. The meeting will take place on the second floor of the Public Library (adjacent to the park) at 500 Park Ave. from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Suburban Consulting Engineers, the assisting planner in the project, will be in attendance at the meeting, according to a city spokesperson.
“Church Square Park is used by so many people for many different purposes,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “We want to hear everyone’s ideas on how we can improve the park for our entire community.”
A spokesperson said that the city will use a $1.6 million bond for city-wide park improvements towards the Church Square Park renovations. Funds from the bond were also used to renovate Jackson Street Park, Jefferson Street Park, and Legion Park. The Hoboken Family Alliance’s Project Play also previously raised $50,000 in private funds for playground improvements, which are being donated toward the Church Square Park.
Menendez disapproves of governor’s veto of statewide health care legislation
HUDSON COUNTY – U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-13) issued a statement on Friday disapproving of Gov. Christopher Christie’s veto of legislation that would have created a statewide health care exchange and provide coverage options for consumers and small businesses.
“I’m disappointed in the governor’s decision to veto this legislation,” Menendez stated in a press release. “The clock is ticking, and the governor’s veto leaves unanswered how we can best achieve getting affordable health coverage for New Jersey families.
“For the uninsured, their predicament is not only unfortunate and unacceptable; it is also unsustainable as a cost to New Jersey taxpayers. New Jersey taxpayers are on the hook every time someone without coverage shows up in an emergency room, whether it’s for life-threatening treatment or routine medical care. The new health exchange will help families find affordable options.
“The one thing I do agree with the governor on is that this should not be done hastily. New Jersey has an opportunity to get this right, with $8.7 million in federal funding for planning and preparation. That is exactly why we can’t afford any delays.”