Primary election Tuesday
Primary elections are being heldon Tuesday, June 3. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters will get to choose candidates for U.S. Senate, House of Representative, Hudson County Surrogate, and local Freeholders.
Letter writer passes away
William Frasca, who has written dozens of erudite letters about important Jersey City issues, passed away last week.
Funeral mass was celebrated May 30 at Our Lady of Victories Church for Frasca, 58. He died May 25 at Clara Maas Hospital, Belleville.
A lifelong Jersey City resident, he was the son of the late Julia and William Frasca. He retired as a supervisor at the age of 50, after 28 years service with the state of New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles. He was the beloved husband of Lorraine Foscolo Frasca, and devoted father of Angelica and Julianna. Services arranged by the Greenville Memorial Home, Jersey City.
He will be especially missed as an important voice on the Reporter’s letters page, sometimes the only person writing about an important issue that was crucial to the populace.
Death on Mallory Avenue ruled a homicide
Hudson County Acting Prosecutor Gaetano T. Gregory has announced that the death of Michael Galdieri, 52, of Mallory Avenue, Jersey City, was determined to be a homicide.
On May 22, at approximately 9:30 p.m., a fire was reported at 158 Mallory Ave. The second story was engulfed in flames when the Jersey City Fire Department arrived, but the fire was quickly contained. Galdieri was found on the second floor by firefighters. He was pronounced dead at approximately 10:35 p.m. No one else was injured by the fire and Galdieri was the only one in the building when the fire department arrived.
A report on NJ.com said he was the son of a former state senator.
The Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was multiple stab wounds and the manner of death was determined to be homicide. The preliminary arson investigation determined that the origin of the fire was on the second floor.
An investigation is being conducted by the Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit with assistance from the Jersey City Fire and Police Departments. The investigation is active and no arrests have been made yet. A motive has not been determined.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit at (201) 915-1345 or by email at hcpotips@hcpo.org. All contacts will be kept confidential.
Fireworks return to Jersey City, plus a free concert
Jersey City will host its own fireworks in Liberty State Park for the 4th of July. Through support from partners Suntex Marinas, Budweiser, and Fox & Friends, along with a strong assist from the State of New Jersey and the superintendent of Liberty State Park, this year Jersey City will host the Freedom and Fireworks Festival, a free concert followed by a large fireworks display in honor of the 4th of July. The festival will also feature a Taste of Jersey City with great food offered by local establishments, children rides and local musicians.
“We anticipate over 100,000 people joining us for this celebration,” said Mayor Steven Fulop.
Fulop said more information will be forthcoming over the next few weeks.
JC woman may be charged in child’s death
A 30-year-old Jersey City woman faces possible charges as a result of the death of her 2-year-old daughter and possible charges of endangering the welfare of a minor with regard to her 1-year-old son.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has announced that is it waiting for the result of an autopsy to determine which charges will be filed.
Port Authority received $167M federal grant for Sandy repairs
The Port Authority’s ongoing efforts to clean up residual damage to the PATH rail system left behind by Superstorm Sandy’s floodwaters will be boosted by an additional $167 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
This new funding is part of $1.3 billion in recovery funding already allocated by the FTA to PATH to help undo the impact of Sandy throughout the PATH system, including corrosive salt water damage to tunnels, rails, cables and other equipment.
Work has been ongoing on weekends throughout 2014 to help clean the tunnels of the corrosive salt remaining after initial cleaning efforts in the wake of the 2012 storm got the system back up and running.
Tommy Hilfiger signs on to Golden Door Film Festival
The Golden Door International Film Festival, now in its fourth year, has announced that Tommy Hilfiger is their presenting sponsor for 2014. The festival will run from Sept. 25-28 at various locations throughout Jersey City, with its opening night and awards ceremony at the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre.
“Not only is Tommy Hilfiger a fashion icon and captain of industry, but he and his wife, Dee Ocleppo, are on the board of directors of Autism Speaks,” says Bill Sorvino, founder and president of The Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City (GDIFF). “Autism awareness has become one of the important missions of the philanthropic arm of the Golden Door Film Festival and we know that this will help propel this mission forward and fast.”
For more information on the festival and how to become a sponsor or volunteer, visit www.goldendoorfilmfestival.com
Jersey City Library opens its summer reading program
Summer Reading Program 2014 at the Jersey City Free Public Library presents a theme that offers powerful fun by focusing on science.
Children can register for SRP 2014 on Monday, June 2 at all branches and the Bonetti Children’s Room at the Main Library. The Summer Reading Program runs from Monday, June 23 to Friday, Aug. 15.
Themes are established by the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP), which serves all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Mariana Islands, Federated Islands of Micronesia, and the Cayman Islands. The CSLP is a consortium that provides high-quality summer reading program materials, including bookmarks and the annual theme imagery, for children at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries. All CSLP materials are free, and offered by the New Jersey State Library to public libraries.
Support Weehawken High School Peer Leadership
A fundraiser for the Weehawken High School Peer Leadership group is being held on Monday, June 2 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Houlihan’s at 1200 Harbor Boulevard, Weehawken.
The Weehawken High School Peer Leadership group is designed to get students involved in civic-related activities. The program instills a sense of pride in the community, both within school and in their daily lives.
Participants engage in activities throughout the community and raise money for charities such as the Special Olympics of New Jersey.
A portion of the proceeds from the event on June 2 will go to benefit Weehawken Peer Leadership.
Public School 22 kicks off summer reading program
Dr. Ercel F. Webb (PS No. 22) School Summer Reading Program kicks off in two weeks, seeking to place baskets of books in places that books might not otherwise be found, such as bodegas, Laundromats, nail salons, in hopes that kids will borrow, take, or read them while they’re out this summer. Mayor Steven Fulop will join students on June 18 at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to distribute baskets at PS 22 Dr. Ercel F. Webb School, 264 Van Horne St. and Lafayette Park if weather permits. The event is free and open to the public. Organizers, including employees of Silverman, are seeking donations of books, cash and volunteers to help distribute the books.
St. Paul’s Dance cancelled
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Spring Dance (DJ Royal K & His Wall of Groove) at St. Paul’s has been cancelled.