Judge dismisses lawsuit against former Jersey City police chief
On Sept. 7, Superior Court Judge Daniel D’Alessandro dismissed a lawsuit against former Police Chief Robert Cowan on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
Cowan and his brother Police Capt. Thomas Cowan were accused of alleged political retaliation, false arrest and other charges dating back to incidents that allegedly occurred in 2013 and 2014.
But the judge allowed the case against Capt. Thomas Cowan, who has also been charged with malicious prosecution and false arrest, to go forward.
The suit comes out of a claim that drunken driving charges were filed against a police officer because of his alleged political support for Mayor Jerramiah Healy in an election pitting him against Steven Fulop, who eventually won. Fulop named Robert Cowan police chief after winning as mayor, but later demoted him in an internal public safety conflict.
JCMC uses 9/11 tragedy as teaching tool
Jersey City Medical Center, a Barnabas Health facility, will use the anniversary of 9/11 to help prepare the community for treating wounds during an emergency.
“On the 15th anniversary of this tragic event, Jersey City Medical Center will once again prepare the community for future disasters or emergency situations,” said Joseph Scott, president and CEO of Jersey City Medical Center.
“The hospital will host its third annual seminar for the people who live and work in our community to help prepare them for the possibility of any future natural or man-made disaster, or a family emergency,” Scott said. “We may not be able to predict an emergency, but proper planning and preparation can often make a difference should one occur.”
This year’s program, Being Safe On The Street, will provide critical information on managing wounds during times of disaster or personal emergency. The event will take place on Monday, Sept. 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the hospital’s cafeteria, 355 Grand St., Jersey City.
The free sessions will be presented by the hospital’s EMS, emergency medicine staff, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the Jersey City Police Department.
On Sept. 11, 2001, the hospital and Jersey City fire and police departments treated some 2,000 people injured at the World Trade Center.
For more information on the event, call (201) 915-2218.
The selfie society explored in new performance series on narcissism.
Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) at Merseles Studios, 339 Newark Ave., Jersey City, explores human vanity in a series that features 16 events, including a visual art exhibition, new play readings, film, a full-theater production, dance, performance art and The Box, a variety show like evening that concludes the series.
“We use to judge others by the fruits of their labor, but now it seems who you are and what you do are only as valuable as the amount of likes your picture gets on Facebook,” said Olga Levina, artistic director, JCTC. “Why does everybody on Facebook seem to act like they’re celebrities? What does fame really mean these days? Even the presidential election seems more like a reality show about which candidate is more popular, and not about the issues and problems facing the world.”
“Vanity” begins with the Vanity Art Show opening, an exhibition in the art gallery at Merseles Studios curated by Lucy Rovetto, visual arts coordinator, JCTC. The Vanity show features 20 artists working in several different mediums. “Everything about our lives now seems on display in some form of media,” said Rovetto. “There’s no longer much difference between our private self and public persona. Are we losing ourselves in what only looks like reality? Vanity in the truest sense of the word is all about the image, so maybe it makes sense that this theme inspired visual artists, regardless of their medium.”
The Vanity showcase starts on Sept. 16 with an art show gallery opening from 6 to 10 p.m. This will be followed on Sept. 17 with a new play reading, “Miss Tennessee” by Joe Sutton, from 7 to 10 p.m.
Other events will continue running from Sept. 29 through Nov. 11.
York Street Project’s 17th Annual Golf Outing
On Monday, Sept. 19, the York Street Project will host its 17th annual golf outing to raise money for programs to benefit homeless and low-income families of Jersey City. This event aims to raise the necessary funds required to keep the project’s doors open and programs running. The event will take place at Arcola Country Club in Paramus.
More information can be found at www.yorkstreetproject.org/golf , or by contacting Kyle O’Neill at (201) 451-8225 or koneill@yorkstreetproject.org.
All About Downtown Street Fair kicks off on Sept. 17
The Annual All About Downtown Street Fair is back. The sixth annual event will encompass a larger area from Newark Avenue between Grove Street, Jersey Avenue and Coles Avenue as well and will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 17.
“We return for a sixth year with over 300 vendors and more than 15 food and mobile fashion trucks,” said Rachel Sieg, executive director of the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District.
The street fair began in 2011, featuring over a hundred vendors selling all sorts of products ranging from handmade jewelry to one of a kind art work, 10+ of the top Food Trucks in the tri-state area and all sorts of fun for the family. In 2015 this event brought over 30,000 into the downtown corridor with 2016 expecting even more people.
The event features everything from vintage clothing to organic homemade ice cream, toys, jewelry and much more, and includes things for every age group.