Fire Captain killed in Memorial Day crash
Capt. Michael Suchdolski, a 34-year veteran of the Jersey City Fire Department, was killed when his pickup truck went off the road in West Milford over the Memorial Day weekend.
City Council members held a moment of silence before a special meeting on June 2 in his honor. The 58-year-old Suchdolski received numerous honors during his long career.
Fatal shooting in Audubon Park
Tyrell Franklin, 28, of Jersey City, died as the result on a gunshot wound to the upper part of his body at about 11:28 p.m. on May 26. Jersey City police were dispatched to the area of Stegman Street and Bergen Avenue on the report of a shooting, and found Franklin in Audubon Park, according to a statement issued by Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez.
Police also discovered a second individual on Stegman Street who had multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to Jersey City Medical Center in critical condition.
“Thus far, no arrests have been made. The prosecutor’s Homicide Unit is investigating with the assistance of the Jersey City Police Department. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office at (201 915-1345) or by leaving an anonymous tip on the website at http:/.www.hudsoncountyprosecutorofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential,” said the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in a release.
Jersey City’s AmeriCorps VISTA program is accepting applications for 2016-2017 projects
Mayor Steven Fulop announced last week that Jersey City’s AmeriCorps VISTA Program is now accepting applications for the program’s 2016-2017 cycle, continuing the administration’s focus on supporting and promoting volunteerism and civic engagement while expanding services for residents.
JC VISTA is a federally-funded volunteer project under the umbrella of AmeriCorps that works to address the needs of low-income residents. Team members serve for a one-year period on projects to advance economic and workforce development, community outreach, and youth development. Jersey City is the only municipality in New Jersey to have an AmeriCorps VISTA program.
Jersey City’s 2016-2017 VISTAs will have the opportunity to serve embedded in a variety of City divisions and will work on interdepartmental initiatives focused on poverty reduction, community outreach, and youth development.
The VISTA program is a part of the AmeriCorps volunteer services. AmeriCorps VISTAs work with nonprofits and local governments on building organizational capacity and developing programs to strengthen and support local communities.
JC VISTA members will receive an annual living allowance of $13,296 before taxes. They will also be given the opportunity to enroll in the VISTA Health Benefits Program. After completing one full year of service, JC VISTA members can choose to receive an Education Award of $5,730 or an End of Service Stipend of $1,500.
Applicants will be required to complete a criminal background check. The deadline to apply for the July cohort is June 16. The deadline to apply for the August cohort is July 11.
For more information or to download the application, please visit: http://www.jerseycitynj.gov/JCVistaProgram/.
County Bar Association offers seminar on ‘Special Needs Children and Divorce’
Several issues arise in divorce when there is a special needs child. How will the custody arrangement affect the child’s education? Should child support be paid into a special needs trust? Will the child ever be emancipated? Will the child need a guardian upon reaching the age of majority? Learn how to address these issues and draft for them in your settlement agreements at a seminar offered by The Hudson County Bar Association & Foundation’s Family Law Committee titled “Special Needs Children and Divorce.” The guest speakers will be attornies Beth Manes and Lori Cieckiewicz.
The seminar is scheduled for June 16 at 5 p.m. (check in) with the program scheduled to start promptly at 5:30 p.m. at the Brennan Courthouse Courtroom of the Hon. Lisa Rose, J.S.C.,
583 Newark Ave., fourth floor, Jersey City.
If you are a 2016 HCBA member you can attend in-house CLE seminars and receive up to 12 free CLE credits. After you have received your 12 credits, cost for members will be $50.00 per CLE Seminar. Price for all NON HCBA Members: $100.00 per CLE Seminar. All checks are to be made payable to the Hudson County Bar Foundation. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are acceptable. You may also fax your credit card information to (201) 798-1740 or email at events@hcbalaw.com. Registration deadline is June 9.
New Jersey’s Board of Education adds 19 Hindu festivals to religious holiday list
New Jersey State Board of Education recently included 19 Hindu festivals to “The List of Religious Holidays Permitting Student Absence from School.”
It included four festivals in October itself, including Navaratri, which alone is listed for ten days. This “list of religious holidays on which it shall be mandatory to excuse a student” includes the Hindu festivals of Guru Purnima, Naga Panchami, Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesha Chaturthi, Onam, Navaratri, Duserra, Diwali, Goverdhan Puja, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Vasant Panchami, Maha Shivaratri, Holi, Chandramana Yugadi, Souramana Yugadi, Ramnavami and Hanuman Jayanti.
Universal Society of Hinduism urged the Board in the past to include five festivals on the list, which are included in this list.
According to the NJSBE resolution, “Any student absent from school because of a religious holiday may not be deprived of any award or of eligibility or opportunity to compete for any award because of such absence.” The resolution also states, “Students who miss a test or examination because of absence on a religious holiday must be given the right to take an alternate test or examination.” Also according to the resolution, “Any absence because of a religious holiday must be recorded…as an excused absence.”
Ethical Community Charter School Announces 5K run
On June 11 at Liberty State Park the Ethical Community Charter School will host their 5th annual 5K Run. The day will offer a festival from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The race begins at 9 a.m. with awards handed out at 10 a.m., followed by kid’s races beginning at 10:30 a.m. Refreshments and kids activities will be available. Entry fees are $30 from now until race day. Proceeds benefit the students of the Ethical Community Charter School.
For more information, call (201) 984-4151.