Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus – whichever holiday you choose to celebrate, it puts you in the mood to ponder the past year and reflect on the year to come. A wide array of local residents talked last week about what they’re thinking about this holiday season.
Tony Torres
A lifelong Jersey City resident, Torres is the chief of staff for Hudson County Freeholder Eliu Rivera. He is also an actor and mentor with Our Youth, a support group for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender teens that meets in Jersey City Heights. Torres has been wheelchair bound since the age of 19 after he lost his legs in a car accident.
“Christmas time we tend to think about things like happiness, toys, and family, but there are people out there who do not have family, especially those in the LGBT community. I also think about those people who donated blood after my car accident, to whom I will be forever grateful.”
Richard Winant
Winant is a downtown Jersey City resident who lives with his wife Dorcey. He is the Director of Libraries for the Medical Research Library of Brooklyn, part of the State University of New York. Winant also belongs to several local organizations including the Jersey City George Washington Commemorative Society.
“We have this tendency to go to religious ceremonies where Christmas carols are sung, and what we learn is to give to others, and it is really the spirit of Christ. It is too bad we do this only once a year when we could do this maybe once a month, maybe once a week, and eventually every day.”
Joan Koehler
Koehler lives in downtown Jersey City with her partner, Jan Nordland. She is a real estate agent at the Armagno Agency in Jersey City. She also helped organize the Dec. 12 Christmas tree lighting in Hamilton Park.
“My thoughts are how lucky I am to live in Jersey City, and how wonderful that the neighborhood folks are recognizing people from the area who passed away by putting yellow ribbons on the trees in the park. I just hope for peace on earth and goodwill to all people, whatever they celebrate.”
Brian Mullaney and his black Labrador, Emma
Mullaney lives in the Hamilton Square building in Jersey City with his girlfriend, her daughter, and his dog. Mullaney works as an IT specialist.
“My girlfriend Cheryl is very special to me, and she is Miss Christmas. Starting on Black Friday, she gets up at 3 a.m. and says ‘Merry Christmas!’ She has more Christmas spirit than anyone I know. She puts up the Christmas tree on Black Friday after she has gone shopping.”
Aaron Jackson
Jackson is a local resident who works at the Salvation Army Child Care Center in Jersey City’s Bergen-Lafayette section.
“I think about spending time with my family during the holidays, and about the kids I take care of at the child care center and the time I enjoy with them.”
Yaneiris Garabito and her mom, Yanet
Garabito works at the Jersey City PACO Home Energy and Weatherization office in downtown Jersey City. A native of the Dominican Republic, she is mother of two children.
“I was a little girl living in the Dominican Republic and we would celebrate Christmas with a dinner and seeing family. But the kids would not get gifts until Jan. 6, because that’s Three Kings Day. I remember my mom would hide presents all over the house. I really miss those times.”
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.