Court won’t intervene in superintendent conflict – yet
Judge Richard McGill last week declined to step into a Jersey City Board of Education conflict over the reappointment of Schools Superintendent Dr. Marcia Lyles. But he did not rule out a future intervention.
Four members of the Board of Education are seeking to force the board to vote up or down on Lyles’ contract renewal. Even though five of the nine members of the board appear to support Lyles’ reappointment, the board has declined to take a vote. The lack of a vote, according to a legal opinion issued by the board’s legal staff means that Lyles contract is automatically renewed.
The issue is complicated by a change of rules by the state that may disqualify some board members from being able to vote. So the result of a vote is unpredictable.
Board member Lorenzo Richardson, who opposes Lyles’ reappointment, has also asked state Education Commissioner David Hespe to force the board to vote on the contract renewal. This was made part of his court request, in which he also asked the court to halt the reappointment until a vote could be taken.
McGill refused to intervene and said Richardson’s requests did not meet the legal requirements that would have required court action. But the judge did not rule out a future intervention if he deemed it necessary.
Author Stephen King to appear in Jersey City
According to the website of Word, the Jersey City bookstore at 123 Newark Ave., best-selling author of horror novels Stephen King will appear on Tuesday, June 7, to promote his new book “End of Watch.” Information on the start time for the event and ticketing can be found by checking the store’s website, http://www.wordbookstores.com/word-jersey-city, and clicking on the link JC Events.
Hoop madness basketball camp comes to Jersey City Armory
Councilwoman Joyce Watterman in conjunction with the Jersey City Women’s Committee, the Jersey City Council and Mayor Steven Fulop, will host Hoop Madness Basketball Camp on Saturday, March 19 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The suggested donation is $20. The event will be held in the Jersey City Armory, 678 Montgomery Ave., Jersey City.
Mana Contemporary to open on Saturdays
Beginning Saturday, March 12, Mana Contemporary will be open to the public on Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. This will feature some self-guided tours as well as artists there opening their studio spaces.
Mana Contemporary is located at 888 Newark Ave., Jersey City.
Admission is free.
For more information, visit http://manacontemporary.com/2016-0312-saturdaysatmana
Come witness a miracle?
If you ever wanted to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, and simply couldn’t make the trip, you can take a virtual trip thanks to Holy Rosary Church.
On Tuesday, March 15 at 7 p.m. North American Lourdes Volunteers will present a 90-minute virtual pilgrimage to Lourdes. Those who attend will be able to touch a piece of the Grotto Rock, which faithful believe is the rock upon which Mary, the mother of Jesus, stood during a miraculous appearance before St. Bernadette. Those who attend will also receive a Eucharist blessing. This will be held at 344 6th St.
A classic musical re-imagined
The High Tech High School Musical Theatre program, under the direction of John Zisa, will present a completely re-imagined production of the 1970s musical, Pippin, on Thursday, March 17 through Sunday, March 20 in the Jay Todd Black Box Theater on the campus of High Tech High School in North Bergen.
High Tech’s production of Pippin tells the story of a millennial who encounters a mysterious group of performers who convince him to embark on a death-defying journey to find the meaning of life. Will he choose a happy but simple existence? Or will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory?
The cast of Pippin is made up of junior and senior musical theatre majors from across Hudson County as part of High Tech High School’s Performing Arts Academy. The Pippin band is also made up of students from High Tech High School’s music department and is directed and conducted by High Tech Performing Arts staff member, Rod Shepard.
Pippin is presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). Tickets can be purchased through www.showtix4u.com. Curtain is 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday evening, and there is a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday. For more information on tickets or the show, please contact John Zisa at jzisa@hcstonline.org.
Model train exhibition set for two weekends in March
The Society of Model Engineers, at 90 years the oldest nonprofit historical and educational organization of its type in the United States, will be open for two weekends in March to the public for its 90th Anniversary Model Train Exhibition.
The pride of the society, the model train layouts, cover almost 4,000 square feet. The larger “O” Scale layout is 40 feet by 70 feet and has almost 20 scale miles of train track. It features a detailed scenic diorama with realistic track work, roads, interesting structures, bridges and tunnels. The “HO” Scale layout is approximately 30 feet by 45 feet. It also, is fully scenic with miles of scale track. Over 50,000 miniature trees have been installed by the members to depict Northern New Jersey.
The society is the oldest model railroad club in the United States. The membership of over one hundred has joined together in the common interest of preserving the historical significance of American railroads through models and memorabilia.
The exhibition will be open the weekends of March 12 and 13 and March 19 and 20 at its headquarters, 341 Hoboken Rd., Carlstadt, less than one mile from MetLife Stadium.
Hours of the exhibition are Saturdays and Sundays 1 to 5 p.m. The requested donation is $7 for adults and $1.00 for children
Additional information and travel directions can be obtained by calling (201) 939-9212 or going to the society’s web site www.ModelEngineers.org.
2nd Annual Lupus Walk will be May 1
The Second Annual Hudson County Lupus Walk, including a day of family-friendly activities, will take place May 1 in Lincoln Park, Jersey City, beginning at 8 a.m. Donations for individual walkers are $10 and you can sign up for the walk or simply to donate at www.daddysunshine.com or atwww.hudsoncountylupusdwalk.org. For more information, call (551) 689-0500.