Jersey City campers killed in Virginia
A Jersey City family from Danforth Avenue was caught in the path of a tornado when on a camping trip along the Eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay at about 9 a.m. on Thursday. Lord Balatbat, and his wife, Lolibeth Ortega, both 38, were killed when a tree fell on their tent, said a spokesperson for the Virginia State Police.
Their son was critically injured and is reportedly in a coma.
The twister hit just south of the Cherrystone Family Camping and RV Resort about 9 a.m. More than 1,300 were at the camp ground at the time. About three dozen were injured and transported to area hospitals.
New firefighters sworn in
Mayor Steven M. Fulop, Public Safety Director James Shea, and Fire Chief Darren Rivers, were part of a swearing-in ceremony at City Hall on July 25 for 26 new firefighters, bringing the total number of the Jersey City Fire Department to 577 firefighters.
The hiring of the new firefighters was made possible by funds from a $6.9 million federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant announced in January. The grant is expected to fund up to 49 new firefighters.
The diverse class includes the department’s first African-American female, as well as two African-American males, four Hispanic males and an Asian male. The new firefighters – who are the 61st class in the Fire Department’s 143-year history – completed eight weeks of training at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy.
New City Hall annex slated for MLK Drive
Mayor Steven Fulop said earlier this month that he is seeking to have the city build a $20 million City Hall annex on Martin Luther King Drive.
The annex would be located at the Hub shopping area, and would accommodate 250 workers as well as offices for the mayor, police and fire chiefs.
Women Rising gets Verizon grant
Women Rising, Inc., a community-based organization for women in Hudson County, received a grant on July 20 to support their 100-year mission of helping women in need of jobs, safety from domestic violence, freedom from substance abuse, and safe homes for children.
The presentation took place at the at the Sugartown Charity 5K Run/Walk in Jersey City amongst a crowd of runners, community members, and supporters of domestic violence survivors. At the start of the race, HopeLine from Verizon presented a $20,000 grant to help support Women Rising, Inc.’s domestic violence shelter.
HopeLine from Verizon Wireless connects survivors of domestic violence to vital resources, and funds organizations nationwide while protecting the environment. Verizon is committed to helping the men, women and children affected by domestic violence by collecting no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories and turning them into support for domestic violence organizations. Through HopeLine, Verizon has donated thousands of phones and awarded millions of dollars in cash grants to partner agencies.
DiNardo honored by NJ Sharing Network
At a solemn ceremony held in New Providence, Conn., NJ Sharing Network last week honored the legacy of Jersey City Police Det. Marc Anthony DiNardo while raising awareness about the life-saving gifts of organ and tissue donation.
The detective, killed five years ago in the line of duty, became an organ donor and his heart and two kidneys saved the lives of three others. The ceremony marked five years since his donation.
“We are here today to celebrate Marc’s donation of life-saving organs, and to thank Mary DiNardo for being such a strong advocate for organ donation and education. She is a good friend to NJ Sharing Network,” said Joe Roth, president and CEO of NJ Sharing Network.
Mary DiNardo said encouraging others to become organ and tissue donors has become an important mission in her life.
William Procida honored by Gold Coast Regional Chamber
The Gold Coast Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced that William “Billy” Procida, founder and president of Procida Funding & Advisors, LLC, has been chosen as honoree representing the chamber’s Leader in Real Estate and Finance for their upcoming 3rd Annual Leadership Awards Dinner gala on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
The Gold Coast Regional Chamber of Commerce brings together businesses from Englewood Cliffs all the way to Jersey City. Their annual Leadership Awards Dinner – which will be held this year at Waterside Restaurant & Catering in North Bergen – is a prestigious five-course dinner gala recognizing community leaders in their respective fields and allowing attendees to network and pay homage to honorees.
Also being awarded this year will be Paul T. Imbarrato of Let it Grow, Inc. who will be recognized as the chamber’s Leader in Landscaping and Site Construction Beautification.
To find out more about the awards dinner or how to place a journal greeting contact Brigitte Neumann at info@goldcoastchamber.org or visit www.goldcoastchamber.org.