Drug raid in West New York leads to four arrests
The West New York Tactical Patrol Force led a raid into a first floor apartment at a 62nd Street address at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 18 and made four arrests, according to West New York Police Director Michael Indri.
Joined by the West New York Swat Team, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office led by Sheriff Frank Schillari, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and the Port Authority K-9 Unit, sergeants Frank Steffe and Danny Braico gained entrance into the apartment after obtaining a search warrant based on the occupants’ alleged gang and drug associations.
“They had [allegedly] been causing problems throughout the whole building,” Indri stated Tuesday. “We’d been trying to pursue this case for a while, and it resulted in four arrests.”
Upon entry, the teams found twin sisters Diana and Amanda Dopico, 23, and brother Christopher Dopico, 25; the latter of whom was allegedly attempting to flush a quantity of marijuana down the toilet. Officers were able to recover a softball-sized portion, Indri said. This led to a charge of tampering with evidence.
“We were hoping to get a larger portion of drugs,” Indri stated, “and when that didn’t occur, we acted on the information of an associate that the 6th floor was [allegedly] being used as stash house.”
Officers were granted consent to search the upper-level apartment by the mother of Andrew Moreno, 23, who was found to allegedly be in possession of stun guns, paraphernalia, over a pound of marijuana with a street value of $5,000, and $4,500 in monies used for drug transactions, Indri said.
Christopher Dopico was charged with gang criminality, controlled dangerous substance (CDS) distribution, CDS distribution within 500 feet of public housing, CDS distribution within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of CDS, and possession of CDS paraphernalia.
Diana and Amanda Dopico were both charged with unlawful possession of weapons, CDS distribution, CDS distribution within 500 feet of public housing, CDS distribution within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of CDS, possession of CDS paraphernalia, failure to make lawful disposition, conspiracy, and CDS possession of 50 grams and over.
Moreno was charged with criminal gang activity, unlawful possession of a weapon, CDS distribution, CDS distribution within 500 feet of public housing, CDS distribution within 1000 feet of a school, possession of CDS, and possession of CDS paraphernalia.
“These are people who have been [allegedly] terrorizing the area up there. People in the area were relieved, and some were clapping when the officers emerged later on,” Indri said. “I will do whatever I have to do and use whatever resources I have at my disposal to rid my town of this sort of criminal behavior.”
Tall ships set sail on Hudson to kick off Fleet Week New York and OpSail 2012
For a moment, the Hudson River looked like a scene from ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ as seventeen tall ships from around the world sailed past the New Jersey and Manhattan waterfronts, followed by 10 warships both domestic and foreign. Military aircraft sailed overhead spewing streams of red, white, and blue as hundreds of children and adults swarmed the piers to catch a glimpse of history.
The ships entered the harbor on Wednesday at around 9 a.m. and traveled north up the Hudson, kicking off OpSail 2012 and Fleet Week. The ships will return south and dock in various places. Docking locations and tour times for the modern military vessels and historic tall ships visiting New York are available at http://www.nywaterway.com/FleetWeek2012.aspx.
Military and veterans to ride ferry and bus network for free during Fleet Week
The New York Waterway ferry and bus network will provide free commuter service for all active duty military personnel in uniform from any nation and American veterans during Fleet Week through 30.
Docking locations and tour times for the modern military vessels and historic tall ships visiting New York are available at http://www.nywaterway.com/FleetWeek2012.aspx.
Service men and women must present identification showing their active duty or veteran status to ride free on ferries departing from New Jersey terminals in Edgewater, Port Imperial and Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken, and 14th Street in Hoboken.
For schedules, prices and additional information please call (800) 533-3779, or visit http://www.nywaterway.com or www.facebook.com/nywaterway.
Union City to host artist awards
Mayor Brian P. Stack and the 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.
UCPAC presents ‘Life to a Guaracha Beat’
A tribute to the legendary Hermanas Marquez, “Life to a Guaracha Beat,” will be held on Tuesday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at the Union City Performing Arts Center located at 2500 Kennedy Blvd.
The event, directed and hosted by Armando Lopez, will feature performances by the renowned pianist Meme Solis, the Yerason Charanga, the Guateque Campesino, songstresses Olga Merediz and Lourdes Lopez, and the dancers Pedro Domech and Rita Macias.
Admission is free. For more information, visit www.UnionCityArtScene.blogspot.com.
WNY Chamber of Commerce to hold two sidewalk sales
The West New York Chamber of Commerce will hold a “Just in Time for Summer” sidewalk sale May 25 through 27 on Bergenline Avenue from 49th Street to 67th Street, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
There were also be a one day promotional “Arrival of Summer” sidewalk sale on June 10 at Bergenline Avenue from 49th Street to 67th Street, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
There will be over 300 shops and restaurants present at both sales. For further information, call (201) 295-5065.
Union City to name poet laureate
The City of Union City, Mayor Brian P. Stack and Board of Commissioners will host the Poet Laureate Introduction Ceremony on Saturday, June 9 at 7 p.m. at the William V. Musto Cultural Center located at 420 15th St.
Ben “Broken English” Figueroa will be named the city’s poet laureate, and the event will feature live poetry performances by poets and performing artists. There will be music and refreshments. Admission is free and everyone is invited.
For more info on the Union City art scene, visit: www.UnionCityArtScene.blogspot.com
For now, Ben may be reached by calling the Union City Office of Public Affairs, at 201-348-5746. Visit Ben’s blog at: www.LaureateLive.blogspot.com
For more info on the Union City art scene, visit: www.UnionCityArtScene.blogspot.com.
County to commemorate Memorial Day May 24
Hudson County’s annual observance of Memorial Day will take place May 24 at 11 a.m. at the county veterans’ plot in Holy Name Cemetery, 823 West Side Ave., Jersey City. Attendees will include veterans’ organizations and their color guards from around the county; and the participation of ROTC students from both McNair Academy and Lincoln High Schools.
A special tribute will be paid to Army Specialist Rafael A. Nieves Jr., who was killed recently while in action in the Paktika Province of Afghanistan. The 22-year-old army specialist, who grew up in Jersey City and Bayonne, was just two weeks short of completing his first tour of duty and returning home to his wife and two children, when his patrol came under attack. He served as a member of the Lincoln High School ROTC Corps of Cadets and took part in past Hudson County Memorial Day Observances.
Hudson County Surrogate Donald DeLeo will serve as the program’s Master of Ceremonies. It is sponsored by County Executive Tom DeGise and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Prieto Meadowlands preservation bill released by Assembly panel
Legislation that Assembly Budget Chairman Vincent Prieto has sponsored to promote preservation in the Meadowlands and Hackensack River regions was released Monday by an Assembly committee. The bill (A-2504) establishes the NJ Meadowlands Conservation Fund and provides for a designation on the state gross income tax return to permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to help support the work of the Meadowlands Conservation Trust.
“The Meadowlands Conservation Trust benefits land preservation in the Hackensack River and Meadowlands regions,” said Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen). “The trust acquires land to permanently preserve wetlands, waterways and open space, offering flood protection, clean water, wildlife habitat and passive recreations. These are all vital to our quality of life, and I’m confident many New Jerseyans will lend a helping hand once we make it easier to do so.”
The bill was released by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and can now be considered by the full Assembly.