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.
Weehawken Recreation to hold fall/winter registration
Registration will be held on Monday, Oct. 15 and Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Weehawken Town Hall located at 400 Park Ave. The Fall/Winter Recreation Program is available online only at www.weehawken-nj.us. Download a copy to preview all offerings.
There are public access computers available for use at the Weehawken Free Public Library located at 49 Hauxhurst Ave.
Registration for workshops and programs will be open to all residents and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Many are in high demand so plan accordingly. Residents may register for programs after these dates but please remember program space is limited and some programs may not be available at a later date.
Programs with fees must be paid at time of registration, cash or checks only. Checks should be made payable to the Township of Weehawken.
Parents must register their own children. Residents must bring proof of residency to registration. For further information, please call the Recreation Department at (201) 319-6061. Please note email registration will not be taken before Oct. 18.
Weehawken Library to host scary stories and book sale
In honor of Teen Read Week 2012, “It Came From the Library,” the Weehawken Library invites young patrons to “Dare to read for the fun of it!” To celebrate, Ms. Kelly and Ms. Donna will host teens ages 13 to 18 for “Scary Campfire Tales” on Sun., Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. The evening promises campfire adventures, scary stories, and s’mores.
The library will host a book sale Sat. and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21. Patrons are invited to buy a bag for $1 fill it with books. The sale will be held in the library’s Community Room.
The Weehawken Library is located at 49 Hauxhurst Ave. For more information, call (201) 863-7823.
Weehawken Women’s Club to host several events
The Weehawken Women’s Club will hold its October meeting on Monday the 15th at 7:15 p.m. at the Senior Nutrition Center, located at 201 Highwood Ave. They will finalize plans regarding their annual fall fund raiser.
The Fall Fundraiser will be held Nov. 4 at the Weehawken Elks Lodge at 50th Street and Boulevard East. There will be a Jazz Brunch beginning at 11 a.m. at the event’s start. The ticket price of $35 per person includes brunch and entertainment. All proceeds from the event will be donated to local charities.
Also in November, at the monthly meeting on the 19th, guest speaker County Surrogate Judge Donald De Leo will discuss the function of his office and the importance of making a will. The meeting will begin at 7:15 p.m. at the Senior Nutrition Center.
December’s monthly meeting will be held on the 10th at 6 p.m. It will be a Pot Luck Christmas Party where all members contribute. Also, at this meeting they will hold their Annual Cookie Packing event. Homemade cookies will be packed and made ready for distribution to local nursing homes, senior centers and veterans’ homes.
Weehawken Weekenders to hold trips in fall
On Oct. 13, the Weehawken Weekenders will visit the Nordic Lodge with all you can eat lobster and more in Charlestown, R.I. and proceed to Mohegan Sun Casino, for $125.
The Weekenders are also planning an eight-night Canadian and New England cruise on the Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas, departing from Bayonne on Aug. 31, 2013 and sailing through Sept. 8.
All trips include transportation and gratuities. Call the Weekenders office at (201) 319-6059 for more information or to make a reservation.
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.
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.
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.
CASA seeks foster care volunteers
Are you interested in helping children in the foster care system? If so, Hudson County CASA is currently recruiting volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to insure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes.
CASA (court appointed special advocate) 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.
Please attend an information session to learn more about the program and the role of its volunteers. A session will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012 from 6 to 7 p.m. in Room 400 of the Hudson County Administration Building at 595 Newark Ave., 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, please call (201) 795-9855, e-mail mgarcia@hudsoncountycasa.org or visit our website at www.hudsoncountycasa.org.
Weehawken Seniors Club seeks new members
The Weehawken Senior Citizens Club is looking for new members. They meet on the first and third Friday afternoons of each month.
Why not come and spend a couple of hours in an air conditioned room, and visit with your old friends? Refreshments will be served, a “Share the Wealth” drawing will be held, and games will be played.
In addition, the club holds special holiday dinners, luncheons, and other events and activities. New members are only strangers the first time they come. Those interested can call (201) 867-5126.