West New York resident dies after being struck by vehicle while he was exiting parked car
Sergio Perez, 77, of 62nd Street and Park Avenue died on Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a motor vehicle while exiting his parked car, West New York Police Director Michael Indri said Thursday morning.
Perez had parked on Park Avenue close to his residence between 62nd and 63rd streets when a Ford Explorer struck his car door at around 2:20 p.m. as he was halfway in and halfway out, Indri said.
The driver of the Ford was traveling north on Park Avenue when she allegedly swerved to avoid hitting a delivery truck that had been parked on the street and lost control, striking Perez’s car, Indri said.
North Hudson Regional Fire department arrived on scene almost immediately, Indri reported, and within a minute of the emergency call they began with to perform CPR and use a defibrillator on Perez until EMS arrived shortly thereafter.
Perez was transported to Palisade Medical Center and was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. Indri said an autopsy was performed Thursday, and that it initially appeared Perez died from a heart attack caused by the trauma of the event.
“Summonses will be most likely be issued against the driver pending further investigation,” Indri added, “And also to the driver of the delivery truck for obstructing traffic, that was parked.”
Local missing girl tracked down through internet activity
A 13-year-old Union City girl reported missing last week was found in Connecticut on Saturday afternoon after police located her by tracking her internet activity, Sgt. Anthony Facchini said Tuesday.
After Union City police determined her location, they informed the Hartford police, who then took her to a Hartford Police Department where her father picked her up, Facchini said.
The investigation is ongoing because she is a minor, and because she was discovered with an adult, Facchini said. The girl is currently at home, he said.
West New York Mayoral hopeful escorted out of apartment building after alleged soliciting
West New York Commissioner County Wiley was escorted out of 5701 Park Ave. on July 31 after residents said Wiley and 14 others had been allegedly knocking on doors soliciting petitions, according to a police report.
Wiley has been in the news lately because he has gone on the record as saying he would like to recall and then replace current Mayor Felix Roque, who was arrested by the FBI in the spring for allegedly hacking into an opponent’s website. One of Wiley’s supporters was also allegedly attacked physically over the weekend, according to an earlier story (see links below).
According to the police report on the July 31 Wiley incident, at around 6 p.m., police responded to the 15th floor, where they discovered Wiley and the others allegedly in the hallway. The building manager told officers the residence was private property and that there is no soliciting allowed, and that she would have them arrested if they did not leave, the report said.
Sgt. Thomas Rivera informed Wiley he had to leave, at which point Wiley was allegedly “very disrespectful and argumentative” and allegedly stated that the police were harassing him, according to the report. He also said that as commissioner, he can go anywhere he wants, the report said.
Wiley then allegedly refused to leave, at which point officers insisted he would have to or he would be arrested for trespassing, the report continued.
Wiley told the Reporter Thursday morning that the petition was against the town’s proposed ordinance that would allow massage parlors to be certified and open businesses in the town, and that the claim that he was disrespectful was untrue.
“If I’d been disrespectful I would have been arrested,” Wiley said. “I’ve been campaigning all over town about this matter because it’s my responsibility as commissioner to reach out to the community about something that would be harmful to them, and the reality is that most people don’t know about it.”
According to the police report, Wiley then was escorted to the lobby where the manager met him and the officers and informed him he could not solicit in a private building but could make an appointment with building management about his concerns, the report states.
Wiley then allegedly said he would get a town ordinance passed forcing management to hire a security guard for the building, the report claims.
“This is a tax abated building receiving a benefit from the town for over 30 years,” Wiley said Thursday. “I don’t have the right to be there? All I was doing was my job acting as a commissioner; I should have the right to go anywhere in the community I wish to go.”
He added, “They used to have a security guard here and the town has received complaints. I calmly spoke with the manager and told her she needed to look out for the safety of the residents in her building.”
After a brief meeting with the manager and a tenant, Wiley said, he left the building.
“I was very disappointed because I don’t expect my officers to be disrespected by anyone,” Police Director Michael Indri stated Thursday morning. “They don’t have to tolerate any disrespect or disorderly conduct like that from anyone.”
Temple Emmanuel to host blood drive
Every 2.5 seconds someone needs blood, and blood donors participating in the Union City Community Blood Drive and Health Fair in cooperation with Community Blood Services will help to ensure that the transfusion needs of area patients are met.
The drive will be held Sat., Aug. 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is sponsored by Temple Emmanuel at Peru Park located at 24th Street between West Street and Central Avenue. To schedule an appointment, please call Community Blood Services at (201) 251-3703.
All blood types are needed, especially Types 0- and 0+. Any healthy individual, age 17 through 75 (16 with parental permission) who weighs at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Donors should eat a moderate meal before donating and must bring identification showing signature.
All donors receive complimentary non-fasting cholesterol and glucose screening with every blood donation.
UC commissioners’ meetings held in different locations
The Union City Board of Commissioners’ meetings will be held in various locations throughout the city to encourage residents to participate in city government. All will begin at 7 p.m.
On Aug. 6, the meeting will be held at the Roosevelt School located at 4507 Hudson Ave.; on Aug. 21, it will be held at Robert Waters Elementary School located at 2800 Summit Ave.; on Sept. 4, it will be held at the William V. Musto Cultural Center located at 420 15th St.; on Sept. 18, it will be held at the Washington School located at 3905 New York Ave.; and on Oct. 2, it will be held at St. Anthony School located at 700 Central Ave.
Colombian Barbecue is Aug. 11
The civic organization “Imagen Colombia” in Union City is sponsoring a Colombian Barbecue on Saturday, Aug. 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. at 80th Street Park, Bergenline Avenue and 80th Street, in North Bergen. Cost is $10 per person and the fare includes Colombian sausage, corn-cakes, fried plantains, meat, chicken, and other traditional dishes. The group is sponsoring the feat for the Colombian community so they can get to know the organization. For more information,
call (201) 993-8622 or visit www.imagencolombia.org.
HRPAC presents Cyro Baptista’s Beat the Donkey
On Wednesday, Aug. 15, Hudson Riverfront Performing Arts Center will host Cyro Baptista and his group Beat the Donkey at Lincoln Harbor Park at 7 p.m. The rain date, if necessary, will be the following night.
Baptista is one of the world’s greatest percussionists and has created a one-of-a-kind, madcap musical show that incorporates percussion, tap dance, Samba, Jazz, Rock, and Funk.
The concert series is sponsored in part by the Hudson Reporter.
For more info, directions, and late breaking concert news and updates, please visit (201) 716-4540, or visit www.hrpac.org.
UC to hold special public safety meetings
As Director of Public Safety, Union City Mayor Brian Stack invites residents to attend a public meeting during which the latest public safety developments and initiatives, as well as crime prevention, will be discussed. It will be held on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. on 8th Street between West Street and Central Avenue, with a rain location at St. Anthony School at 700 Central Ave.
UC’s St. John’s hosts Summer Wellness Program
The Arts at St. John’s Summer Wellness Program will offer fitness, yoga, mediation and belly dancing classes Tuesday nights through Sept. 4. All classes will be held at 1516 Palisade Ave. in Union City, with its entrance located on 16th Street.
Get healthy and support St. John’s at the same time. Class fees go to help keep St. John’s doors open. Become an ASJ wellness member by buying a five-class pack where each class is only $15. Walk in visits are $20 per class.
For more information, email asjwellness@gmail.com or call (201) 301-8340.
Dvine Konektion to provide free community fair
The Dvine Konektion Community Development Corporation is a non-profit organization that provides a free community fair on the third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 5516 Jefferson St. in West New York. The next fair will be held on Saturday, Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Residents of West New York, North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken and Guttenberg are welcome to attend. During the fair, groceries and baby supplies will be distributed, and various medical screenings, information and other services will be offered.
For more information, please call (201) 617-4484 or visit www.dvinek.org.
Child advocate volunteers wanted
Are you interested in helping children in the foster care system? If so, Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is currently recruiting volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes.
CASA and its volunteers speak for children in court, serve as fact finders for the judges, and safeguard the interests of the children while they are in the foster care system.
An information session will be held on Tuesday, July 17 from 6 to 7 p.m. in room 400 of the Hudson County Administration Building located at 595 Newark Ave. in Jersey City.
Hudson County has nearly 700 children in foster care; most have been removed from their homes for abuse or neglect. For further information, call (201) 795-9855, email mgarcia@hudsoncountycasa.org or visit www.hudsoncountycasa.org.