Al Sharpton to visit Jersey City
Rev. Al Sharpton will be the guest speaker at an 84th anniversary of Calvary Christian Methodist Episocopal Church, 25 Oak St., Jersey City, on Sunday, Nov. 8 at the 11 a.m. service. Sharpton, born Oct. 3, 1954, is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, television/radio talk show host and has become an advisor to President Barrack Obama. Sharpton ran as a candidate for president in the 2004 Democratic primary.
Author signing book about terrorism on the Hudson – in 1916
When terrorists obliterated the World Trade Center in Manhattan on 9/11, it was not the first time the area was visited by death and destruction. A century ago, there was an island known as Black Tom on the Jersey City waterfront. There in 1916, German saboteurs – including one from Bayonne – destroyed a huge railroad munitions depot, killing four, injuring hundreds, panicking millions on both sides of the river, and causing damage estimated at a half-billion dollars in today’s money.
Former newsman Ron Semple will make a presentation at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 4 at WORD bookstore, 123 Newark Ave., Jersey City, and sign copies of his new novel, “Black Tom: Terror on the Hudson,” dealing with events surrounding the 1916 terrorist attack. Much of the action takes place in Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, Weehawken, and Union City, and involves the rise of the Hague organization, which dominated New Jersey Democratic politics for more than a generation, and the intertwined lives of the ordinary people of immigrant Jersey City in those extraordinary times.
For eight long years, the horrific events at Black Tom were said to be an accident, until Germany was accused of sabotage in 1924 by the Lehigh Valley Railroad. After decades of litigation, the railroad ultimately collected $50,000,000. Semple’s novel suggests there was a political cover up reaching from City Hall in Jersey City to the White House, designed to help re-elect Woodrow Wilson as president. With Wilson’s support, his old political enemy, Frank Hague, was elected mayor of Jersey City the following year.
Semple is a fifth generation Jersey City native and a longtime newspaperman. He was a reporter for the old Hudson Dispatch and city editor for another local newspaper before heading west to become editor, general manager, or publisher for four other newspapers during a 30-year career.
“Black Tom” will be published on Oct. 30 and distributed worldwide in paperback and as an e-book.
‘The Wizard’s Garden & Other Dances for the Young and Old’ coming Nov. 1 and 8
An afternoon of storytelling dances for all ages will be performed by Nimbus Dance Works’ professional company dancers in the company’s intimate studio theater, 209 Third St., Jersey City, on the next two Sundays, Nov. 1 and 8, with two performances each day at 1 and 4 p.m. Following the performance, audience members can meet the performers for photo opportunities on the red carpet, and share light refreshments.
The program includes “Honor Among Thieves” and “Wizard’s Garden” by Madeline Cantor and “Danzon” by Pedro Ruiz. Each performance lasts approximately 50 minutes.
Tickets for all seats are $15, and can be purchased at http://wizardsgarden2015.bpt.me/.
For more information, call (201)377-0718 or visit www.nimbusdanceworks.org
NJCU to host Chinese dignitaries
New Jersey City University (NJCU) will open the doors to a Confucius Institute designed to provide education on Chinese language and culture on Nov. 2. The Confucius Institute will enable NJCU to emphasize international opportunities for students and faculty with a partner university in China, Jilin Huaqiao University of Foreign Languages (JHUFL) in Jilin Province, one of the largest private universities in China.
Visiting government and educational leaders from China as well as educational, political and cultural leaders from New Jersey will participate in the opening celebration. Members of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, a cross-cultural contemporary company in residence at NJCU, and students from NJCU’s Caroline L. Guarini Department of Music, Dance and Theatre will perform.
NJCU is one of two universities in New Jersey selected to host a Confucius Institute; Rutgers is the other. Approximately 100 universities across the country host Confucius Institutes. An educational partnership agreement, finalized in 2015, was signed by NJCU, Jilin Huaqiao University of Foreign Languages, and the Hanban, an agency within the Ministry of Higher Education of the People’s Republic of China.
JCMC receives highest possible safety and quality rating
Jersey City Medical Center has received an “A” Hospital Safety Score from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit group measuring hospital safety and quality, for the 8th consecutive time, one of only 133 hospitals throughout the country and eight in New Jersey – the only one in Hudson County – to have received an A grade for safety each time.
The scores were calculated by a blue ribbon panel of experts using publicly available data on patient injuries, medical and medication errors, and infections. The scores are designed to give the public information they can use to protect themselves and their families when they need to visit a hospital.
In addition, the hospital has just received the Vision of Performance Excellence Award, the highest quality achievement award presented on the state level following the Malcolm Baldrige criteria for organizational excellence. Jersey City Medical Center is also a Magnet Award winning hospital, which recognizes nursing excellence.
Leapfrog has said that the goal of its hospital safety report is to promote patient safety by providing information to consumers on how well hospitals are keeping patients safe from adverse events like infections, falls, and medication and surgical errors.
“Taking a deeper look at the 133 “straight A’ hospitals reveals a diverse group, similar only in their consistent commitment to patient safety,” said Leah Binder, Leapfrog president and CEO. “No matter how large or small, no matter what kind of community they serve, all hospitals have the potential to give their patients this high level of safe care.”
Murder mystery luncheon
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 155 North St., Jersey City, will host a murder mystery luncheon featuring members of the Attic Ensemble Theater Company on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.
Tickets cost $22, which includes lunch. For more information or reservations (201) 798-0540.
Main Library to remain closed until end of the year
In the continuation of the $15 million renovation to the Main Library of the Jersey City Free Public Library, this historic building will be closed through the end of the year for the installation of new terrazzo tiles and the restoration of existing ones, as well as additional upgrades to the facility.
The Main Library, 472 Jersey Ave., Jersey City, will remain closed through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. The Bookmobile will be stationed in front of the Main Library on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (Blue Route / http://www.jclibrary.org/images/bookmobile/fallwinter2015.pdf), and on Tuesdays and Fridays (Red Route /http://www.jclibrary.org/images/bookmobile/fallwinterred2015.pdf) in the afternoon for both routes. The Main Library will reopen to the public on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.
“We appreciate our patrons’ patience as we continue to restore the library and upgrade facilities,” said Library Director Priscilla Gardner. “We understand the inconvenience this may pose, but encourage our patrons to visit one of our nine other locations.”
The branch was originally scheduled to be closed for five weeks through Oct. 31, however, under the advice of the general contractor, it was determined that additional time was needed to complete the terrazzo installation and restoration. During the extended closure, the contractors will also install the library’s new elevator and fire alarm system.
Phases 1 and 2 – constructing barrier-free restrooms and the first and fourth floors, and providing the foundation for creation of the Handi-Lift and the new elevator shaft – are in various stages of completion. The Lending Department has received a major overhaul, as well. All of these areas will continually receive attention for full completion, while Phase 3 begins to be implemented.
For the latest on programs, events, and special announcements please follow the Library on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jersey-City-Free-Public-Library/121162594579991), Twitter (JCFPL_NJ) or Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/jerseycityPL) at Jersey City Free Public Library. Visit us on the web at www.jclibrary.org for all information on the Library, including all press releases in The Press Room.
As of Oct. 26, the Jersey City Free Public Library has 196,297 valid card members.