News reports: ‘Cake Boss’ Buddy Valastro arrested for drunk driving in NYC
One of Hoboken’s biggest success stories, local bakery shop owner Buddy Valastro—whose reality show, “Cake Boss,” catapulted him to fame and fortune—was reportedly arrested early Thursday morning for allegedly driving while intoxicated in New York City.
According to a New York Times report, police said that Valastro was pulled over for erratically driving a 2014 yellow Corvette at around 1 a.m. on Thursday. Police told the Times that Valastro failed a breath test and was arrested.
Hoboken veterans thanked for their sacrifices at Sinatra Park ceremony
Veterans Day 2014 was marked with remembrance, gratitude, and a renewed call for action to help newly minted veterans returning from America’s modern wars. At a Tuesday ceremony at Hoboken’s World War II memorial in Sinatra Park, members of the local American Legion Post 107 joined Mayor Dawn Zimmer in saluting those who have served and those who have fallen.
94-year-old Orlando Addeo, the oldest member of American Legion Post 107, led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Legion Chaplain Vincent Wassman gave a prayer for peace. Both are among Hoboken’s dwindling population of World War II veterans, which may now number as low as six.
“The public is starting to lose it,” said Wassman. “Thank God we have this ceremony to remind people.”
Zimmer thanked the veterans present for risking everything for their country. “It’s because of their sacrifices that our country is a beacon to the rest of the world,” said Zimmer, “and we owe a tremendous gratitude to our veterans.”
“Veterans deserve the service and support they need when they come home,” added Zimmer, “and of course it’s a shame that we allow our veterans to be homeless in our country, so I’m hopeful that the city of Hoboken, in partnership with the American Legion, can be a partner in solving this problem.”
Zimmer is one of 24 New Jersey mayors to sign onto the “Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness,” an initiative organized by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development that seeks to eradicate veteran homelessness by the end of 2015.
John Carey, the Commander of American Legion Post 107, echoed Zimmer’s call for a renewed focus on addressing the needs of veterans. “Only in World War II, the troops came home to open arms and flag-waving,” he said. “When our elected officials send our men and women off to war, they must be prepared to deal with the consequences of that war…There’ll be no volunteers in tomorrow’s Army if we don’t care of the needs of today’s army.”
Like Carey, Mark Villamar served in Vietnam. “When I returned, the attitude of the public was very hostile,” recalled Villamar after the ceremony. “Having to travel in uniform was a painful thing.” Villamar said he commiserates with the men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan now.
A number of current and former elected officials were in attendance, including Freeholder Anthony Romano, State Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia, Former State Sen. Bernard Kenny, Council President Jennifer Giattino, and Council members Jim Doyle, Peter Cunningham and Theresa Castellano. Police Lieutenant Kenneth Ferrante, who will take over as Chief in December, was also on hand.
New FEMA grant will fund repairs to Observer Highway sewer lines
The North Hudson Sewerage Authority has been awarded a $1.09 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance grant for post-Sandy repairs to the lines beneath Observer Highway, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced this past Thursday.
The funds form part of a $14.4 million tranche recently awarded to address persisting administrative and cleanup costs in New Jersey in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.
The North Hudson Sewerage money will be used to pay contractors for the cleaning of the Observer Highway trunk line.
“These grant awards help keep our state on its path to full recovery from Superstorm Sandy,” said Menendez. “Two years after Sandy, much work is still left to do to rebuild and make our state more resilient. This vital federal funding helps relieve the burden felt in hard-hit communities as New Jersey rebounds better and stronger than before the storm.”
Hudson non-profits receive $1,000 Community Connections grants
Wells Fargo brought together non-profits and community groups from across its North Jersey region recently to distribute $140,000 in Community Connection grants. The Wells Fargo Community Connections program was established to give local store managers an opportunity to make a $1,000 charitable contribution on behalf of Wells Fargo to a non-profit of their choice. The grants were distributed at a special breakfast at the East Hanover Marriott in Whippany. This was the first and largest Wells Fargo community giving event held in the northeast region.
The $1,000 grants went to non-profits who provide services in the areas of community development, education, human services, arts and culture, environmental and civic projects.
Hudson County groups that received the awards include in North Bergen, the Franciscan CDC of Fairview; in West New York, the Rebeka Verea Foundation; in Bayonne, the Community Welfare International; in Hoboken, the Communities of Faith for Housing, Hoboken 14th St., and The Friends of Elysian Charter School; in Jersey City, the Kennedy Dancers, the Lawrence Interfaith Housing Network, and the Newport Salvation Army; in Kearny, the YCS Foundation; in Union City, the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Union City Music Project; and in Weehawken, the Cafe Y Orquidea Cafe & Orquidea.
Hoboken and Bayonne health centers offering free flu shots
Want to beat the flu? Astra Health Centers, an urgent care company with facilities in Hoboken and Bayonne, wants to help out.
The company is currently offering free flu shots at both of its venues.
In Bayonne, it’s at 564 Broadway, where its regular hours are 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
In Hoboken, it’s at 95 Hudson St., where the hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
“Astra Health Centers gives residents an alternative when seeking health care for acute injury or illness,” said a spokeswoman.
Astra offers X-ray facilities, physicals, drug testing, and screenings, and is staffed by state-certified physicians. It accepts all major insurance plans.
Local musicians to perform live version of ‘The Last Waltz’ Nov. 20
ALEO-music plans to present a special live performance of “The Last Waltz,” the film documenting The Band’s last ever concert, on Nov. 20 at Northern Soul in Hoboken.
On Thanksgiving Day 1976, The Band gave their final performance at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, and two years later the documentary film directed by Martin Scorsese was released to wide acclaim.
At 8 p.m. on Nov. 20, some of Hoboken and Jersey City’s finest musicians will perform every song in the movie in the order it appears.
Jaime DeJesus, Jeff Fernandes, Gerry Rosenthal, and Billy Tortoriello will perform as The Band, and local musicians such as Liam Brown, Dave Calamoneri, and Sylvana Joyce will fill in as Van Morrison, Neil Young, and the other all-stars who joined The Band at “The Last Waltz.”
More information about the event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/1500730603509689/