Man shot in head near West Side Avenue in Jersey City
A man was shot to death near Clinton Avenue between West Side Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard early on Thursday morning, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed.
The victim apparently suffered a gunshot to his head in an incident around 2 a.m. on July 21.
The victim’s name has not yet been released, but news reports said investigators were going door to door in the neighborhood looking for information regarding the shooting.
$571M city budget passed; no tax increase
Without fanfare, the Jersey City passed a $571 million municipal budget at a special meeting on July 20. There is no municipal tax increase, marking the third straight year without an increase.
Mayor Steven Fulop said that the city still managed to hire more than 150 new police officers and increase park space in the city by more than 10 percent during that three year period.
“I’m proud to say that we have accomplished a lot during this time, and have done so while either reducing or keeping taxes stable,” said Mayor Steven Fulop in a statement.
The budget also includes hiring of new code enforcement officers to beef up a department that has been understaffed for years, and will add parking enforcement officers.
Council President Rolando Lavarro said the new inspectors and parking officials will likely generate revenue that will more than make up for the cost of their salaries.
Holy Rosary Church celebrates 113th Italian Festival in downtown Jersey City
La Festa Italiana 2016, the Old World Italian Street Festival hosted by Holy Rosary Church, runs Wednesday, Aug. 10 through Sunday, Aug. 14 on Sixth and Brunswick streets.
Founded in 1885, Holy Rosary Church is the first Italian Roman Catholic Parish in New Jersey. La Festa Italiana honors the veneration of Maria SS. Dell’Assunta & San Rocco, and offers the Downtown community the opportunity to party with its neighbors.
This year’s festival will feature live bands, fun for the kids, food, souvenir vendors, and Italian delicacies made by Holy Rosary Church parishioners.
The festival runs from 5 to 11 p.m. Wednesday-to-Friday, and 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The last night (Sunday) at 11 p.m., the “Super 50/50” Raffle winner will be chosen. Last year’s ticket-holder won over $10,200.
La Festa Italiana 2016 will have a five-star line-up of music performed by live bands and music groups.
Every night of the festival, on Sixth and Brunswick streets, DJ Dan of Blueline Productions will perform as well.
A Novena will be celebrated for nine days from Aug. 6-14, in veneration to Our Lady of Assumption.
On Aug. 15 at 11 a.m., the Assumption Feast Day Mass will be celebrated in veneration to Maria SS. Dell’Assunta, and celebrate the memory of Most Rev. Thomas A. Donato, a son and dear friend of Holy Rosary Church. The Most Rev. John W. Flesey, a long-time friend of Bishop Donato is the celebrant.
On Aug 16, at 11 a.m., the St. Rocco Feast Day Mass will be celebrated. A traditional street procession will follows both masses.
For more information, call (2010 795-0120, visit www.lafestaitalianajc.com, or www.Facebook.com/lafestaitalianajc.
St. Peter’s Prep mourns student who drowned
Last week students and staff at St. Peter’s Prep mourned the death of Jeffrey Hoens, a 17-year-old resident of Westfield, a member of the school’s hockey and rugby teams.
Hoens drowned last week when he went spear fishing in the Shark River Inlet near Avon-by-the Sea.
Lending firm moves to Jersey City headquarters
Small business lending firm World Business Lenders has left Manhattan for New Jersey, cutting the ribbon Wednesday on its new corporate headquarters in Jersey City atop the 33rd floor of 101 Hudson St. near Exchange Place. WBL’s new office features more than 35,000 square feet of space with panoramic views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline, according to a report in njbiz.com.
Founded in 2011 in New York, WBL has branches in Georgia, California, Connecticut, Florida and Texas.
CEO Doug Naidus was quoted as saying the move, which came after securing the approval for a 10-year, $16.8 million Grow New Jersey award from the Economic Development Authority (EDA) in February, will help the company realize some of the “bold ambitions” he has for its future.
As part of its relocation, WBL plans to bring 225 full-time jobs to Jersey City by the end of the year and says it is actively working with Mayor Steven Fulop’s administration to address the needs of local small businesses.
The company credits the EDA steering it across the river. At the time of the award approval, WBL was said to also be considering an alternative site in Queens.
The EDA estimates that WBL’s relocation will yield a net benefit of over $85 million back to the state over 20 years.
JC swears in 20 cops
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and Public Safety Director James Shea swore in 20 new police officers at a ceremony held in City Hall on July 21.
Fulop said this brings up the total size of the Jersey City Police Department to 866 officers, an increase of 186 officers since 2013.
“It was only a few years ago that Jersey City was known as a place where the Police Department did not adequately reflect our community. We have come a long way since then, and I am proud that nearly 70 percent of the officers hired since 2013 have been minorities,” Fulop said.
Sentencing postponed for former councilman
The sentencing of former Councilman Khemraj “Chico” Ramchal on drunken driving charges has been postponed until July 29. Ramchal pleaded guilty in May to charges related to a 2015 auto accident. He resigned his council seat in May after his plea.
Jersey City Library offers digital services
The Jersey City library website provides free reading from Zinio for Libraries, OneClickdigital, and hoopla digital provided by the Jersey City Free Public Library Foundation, Inc. All you need is a valid Jersey City library card, and the library web address: www.jclibrary.org.
“It’s important to build collections library patrons want, and certainly, digital content is tops on everyone’s list,” said Library Director Priscilla Gardner. “The problem? Digital collections are an ongoing cost, since the content is continually leased, and is not a one-time purchase. That’s what makes the Library Foundation so vital, by providing the ongoing digital leasing costs as a capital improvement for the library system.”
Zinio for Libraries, the world’s largest newsstand, offers full-color digital magazines for 24/7 digital reading on desktops, mobile devices, and apps. OneClickdigital provides an easy-to-download audiobook. Hoopla digital is an APP that provides free digital content, 24/7, with a valid Jersey City library card, in all the formats you desire: movies, music, TV shows, audiobooks, ebooks, and comics. The user can download up to eight items per month.
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 today, June 22, 2016, the Jersey City Free Public Library has 203,492 valid card members.
Children’s author Eleni Theodorous to read at York Street Project
On Tuesday, Aug. 2, the York Street Project – a project for homeless women and children — will open its doors to Eleni Theodorous for a special literary presentation of her children’s book, “Noko the Knight.” Theodorous captivates worldwide audiences of children, parents, and teachers with this multi-sensory adventure. Through Noko, his family and friends, Theodorous engagingly educates children and their families on how to successfully navigate the effective expression of children’s budding emotions.
Theodorous will read to a classroom of about 25 pre-k kids.
For more information on the project check out www.yorkstreetproject.org
Big Drum Art & Framing to close its doors
Big Drum Art & Framing will be closing their doors on July 31 after 20 years of serving downtown Jersey City. Big Drum started out in the Newport Center Mall in July, 1996 and has been open 7 days a week selling and framing beautiful art ever since. The Art & Framing business, along with its owners Carol & Bill Haight, will be greatly missed by the residents of Jersey City.