Weehawken hires former WNY commish as parking consultant
Former Hudson County Freeholder and former West New York Commissioner Gerald Lange has been hired as a part time consultant to the Weehawken Parking Authority for an annual stipend of $5,000, Weehawken officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Weehawken officials dispelled rumors that the hiring was meant to keep Lange from running for mayor of West New York if and when Mayor Felix Roque steps down due to Roque’s recent indictment.
Roque was charged with involvement into allegedly hacking into an anti-Roque website. He ran for his office in 2011 and beat a mayoral ticket that included then-incumbent Lange.
Lange, along with former West New York Mayor Sal Vega, is among a number of people who were rumored to be considering throwing their hats into the mayor’s race.
But if Lange ran, he would likely oppose current West New York Commissioner Carridad Rodriguez for the mayor’s slot, and Rodriguez supposedly already has the support of Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner.
Weehawken officials said Lange was hired because of his familiarity with the grid work of streets in Weehawken and because he was willing to work part time at a salary much less than the township would have to contract for if hiring a firm.
Union City man charged with stabbing on Bergenline Ave.
Union City resident Salvador Ortiz, 22, allegedly stabbed a 26-year-old man 12:40 a.m. Tuesday morning on 28th Street and Bergenline Avenue, Police Chief Brian Barrett said Thursday. He was arrested Wednesday at 12 noon at his home at 700 block of 29th Street and charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, Barrett said.
The victim was allegedly stabbed once in the arm, after which he allegedly ran down Bergenline Avenue allegedly picking fights and instigating problems according to witnesses, Barrett said, at which point the police responded to the scene.
They began tending to the victim, and he was uncooperative and collapsed due to blood loss, Barrett said. The EMS responded, stopped the bleeding, and the victim was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where he remains in critical but stable condition, Barrett said.
“I would really like to congratulate the Detective Bureau on the meticulous investigation that resulted in the identification of the actor,” Barrett stated Thursday morning. “They located the actor’s knife on a rooftop a block and a half away, and the jacket he was wearing on another rooftop.”
Ortiz is was arraigned in Jersey City Central Judicial Processing Court Thursday.
Union City to hold fifth annual film festival
Union City will host the fifth Annual NoHu International Short Film Festival from Oct.16 to 19, and will be the biggest and best yet. The festival will include three evenings of full-length feature films and an evening of shorts. The festival schedule is as follows:
– Oct. 16, 7 p.m.: “The Death of April” – World Premiere
Union City Performing Arts Center
2500 Kennedy Blvd.
-Oct. 17, 7 p.m.: “Frank and Chip” – New Jersey Premiere
Union City Performing Arts Center
-Oct. 18, 7 p.m.: “Unfinished Spaces” – New Jersey Premiere
Union City Performing Arts Center
– Oct. 19, 6 p.m.: NoHu International Short Film Festival
The festival will culminate in an evening during which finalists will be screened and awards will be presented. Dress to impress. The event will take place at the William V. Musto Cultural Center located at 420 15th St. The community will have the opportunity to meet and greet the filmmakers and actors from the various films. Admission to all screenings is free and refreshments will be served.
For more information, visit www.UnionCityPAC.com.
Dvine Konektion to hold community fair
The Dvine Konektion Community Development Corporation is a non-profit organization that provides a free community fair each month. The next fair will be held on Saturday, Oct. 20from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 5516 Jefferson St. in West New York.
Residents of West New York, North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken and Guttenberg are welcome to attend. 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.
WNY Lions Club to hold golf championships
The West New York Cuban Lions Club will hold its Annual Golf Championship on Oct. 15. There will be gifts, prizes, raffles, lunch, barbecue, soft drinks, and golf carts, as well as a dinner with an open bar.
They are seeking players and volunteers, and ask that those interested contact any member of the club or call Manny Reyes at (201) 424-1201.
The cost is $225 per player and everything included. Dinner only is $75.
Donations are also welcome. Proceeds from this event are to be donated to blind children.
PERC to hold annual fundraiser
The Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation (PERC) will hold their Annual Beer and Wine Tasting Party on Tuesday, Oct. 23 as they honor Grove Reformed Church and celebrate the PERC Kids Program. Be sure to check out the display of the children’s artwork that night.
Grove Reformed Church in North Bergen is the new home to the PERC Kids Program, which includes a Homework Club that takes place during the school year, and a Summer Activities Program.
In 2011, the program needed to find a new space. When Marie Furlong, a deacon at the church heard the program might be jeopardy if a new space was not found, she sprang into action. The church had a great space that was available weekdays – complete with a gym.
PERC Kids was established in 2007 to help elementary children of low-income families. These children come mostly from households where English is not the first language, and often their parents are unable to help with homework due to language barriers.
Certified teachers work closely with the students, and review test scores and report cards to identify areas which may need improving. To date all of our children have graduated from grade to grade, and many of them have made the Dean’s List or Honor Roll.
The fundraiser will be held Oct. 23, 6 to 9 p.m. at Antonia’s By the Park located at 9011 Palisade Ave. in North Bergen. Tickets are $50.
Reservations are required. Please R.S.V.P. by Oct. 16 by calling (201) 348-8150, or visit www. yolasite.com/events.php.
Union City Chamber Players to hold concert at St. John’s
On Nov. 4 at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church located at 1516 Palisade Ave., the Union City Chamber Players (UCCP) will perform works for violin and voice by J.S. Bach, a violin-piano sonata by Brahms, and songs by Samuel Barber.
The UCCP was founded in May of this year and is the latest addition to the growing classical music scene in Union City. Founders Bernadette LaFond and Peter Borten are longtime residents of Union City, and they are planning a third concert for this season which will include music of Mozart and Rachmaninoff, among others. The date will be announced.
For more information, email stjohnsuc@yahoo.com or visit stjohns-unioncity.dioceseofnewark.org/St._Johns_Website/Arts_at_St._Johns.html.
Line dance marathon to benefit sickle cell disease
The Sickle Cell Association of New Jersey (SCANJ) will hold its second annual 24-Seven Line Dance Marathon to benefit New Jersey families affected by sickle cell disease. The event will be hosted by New Jersey City University in the Student Union Building located at 2039 Kennedy Blvd. on the second floor in Jersey City.
Starting Friday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. and ending Saturday, Oct. 20 at 5 p.m., SCANJ will partner with Be the Match to find a suitable bone marrow donor for their 2010 poster child, Savion Smith, and for others who suffer from sickle cell disease. A cheek swab will determine whether or not one is a match for a child in need of a bone marrow transplant.
The 24-hour line dance marathon will also include a Midnight Madness Band Jam, Laugh-A-Thon, Movies, and game tournaments as well as educational workshops on sickle cell disease. Those interested can go visit www.firstgiving.com/sicklecellnewjersey to create or join a team and donate funds for this altruistic cause. Teams and individuals will be awarded for their fundraising efforts.
The top individual fund raiser will be awarded with the Francis Walton Award. The top fundraising team will be awarded with the Walter Clement Noel Award. Teams or individuals who spend the longest period of time with continuous dancing will be awarded the All Knight Long award. Lastly, the Bring It Award will be given to the volunteer who best exemplifies the spirit of community service during the marathon.
UC farmer’s market to run every Sunday
Every Sunday until Nov. 11 there will be a farmer’s market at Troy Towers at 380 Mountain Road in the north parking lot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting. The market is certified by the New Jersey Council of Farmers and Communities and supplied by Iona Hill Farms.
National Family Partnership to hold contest for Red Ribbon Week
The National Family Partnership (NFP) announces the national contest for its 27th annual Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23 through 31. Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. In 1985 after the murder of a DEA agent, parents, youth and teachers in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the destruction caused by drugs.
This year, families can get involved by entering a contest to promote awareness in their neighborhoods and win a drug prevention grant for their schools.
Families can enter Red Ribbon Week’s contest to win a $1,000 grant for their school and a new iPad for their home. To participate in the contest, families and students will decorate the front of their homes with this year’s message: “The Best Me Is Drug Free.”
Visit www.redribbon.org/contest for further information.
Walk the Hudson Riverfront Walkway with experts
On Sunday, Oct. 14, the Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy will conduct a three-mile Walk on the Walkway of Weehawken and Hoboken from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Meet in Pershing Park, Weehawken, reached from Port Imperial Boulevard at Carlyle Court. The park is located behind 1500 Port Imperial Blvd. A donation of $5 is requested.
Members of the Conservancy Board will be on hand to tell the story of the Walkway and the efforts made over the years to complete the 18.5 linear mile public walkway. Call (201) 519-7057 or (201) 963-3511 to make a reservation, or just show up. For more information, email info@hudsonriverwaterfront.org.