Jersey City man allegedly grabs woman’s groin on Hoboken dance floor
A dance floor encounter at a downtown bar this past weekend resulted in a criminal sexual contact charge for a Jersey City man, according to a report from the Hoboken Police Department. Himanshu Patel, 28, allegedly led police on a foot chase around the block before being arrested and charged, police said.
At around 2 a.m. on March 14, Hoboken Special Police Officers Jonathan Sabatini and Kyle Seper responded to a report of a disorderly person, according to police. They were directed to a woman screaming in the area of Third and Washington streets, police said.
The woman alleged that a man, later identified as Patel, had touched her inappropriately in the groin area while she was dancing at a nearby bar, according to police. After she swatted his hand away, the woman told police, Patel allegedly fled the scene on foot.
The officers allegedly chased Patel for several city blocks, finally apprehending him in the area of 218 Hudson St., according to police.
After allegedly being positively identified by the victim, Patel was brought to police headquarters and processed, police said. He was given $3,000 bail with a 10 percent option and was subsequently bailed out.
Burn calories and support special education at the same time at March 29 event
For the second year in a row, Work It Out Fitness Studios is teaming up with Wallace Elementary School to host a fundraiser for the Global Autism Project and Wallace’s Applied Behavior Analysis program. The specialized school-within-a-school educates 30 children between the ages of three and nine with autism spectrum disorders, and has been recognized statewide for its quality.
On Sunday, March 29, Work It Out will host the Second Annual Ride for a Cause, two hour-long charity rides on its spinning machines coached and led by instructor Sheillah Dallara, whose five-year-old son Alexander is enrolled in the Wallace ABA program. The sessions will take place at noon to 1 p.m., and all of the $50 entry fee will go to the named charity recipients.
The event will take place at Work It Out’s River Studio at 5 Marine View Plaza.
“Finding ways to support the community where our members work, live and play is our priority,” said Noël Fiorentinos, founder of Work it Out Fitness Studios. “By partnering with Wallace Elementary to raise funds for its autism program, we are able to give back to the community that we’ve been proud to call home for the past five years.”
Last year’s Ride for a Cause event raised nearly $3,000, and this year’s event is expected to raise even more.
For more information on the Wallace ABA program, see our full story online.
Second meeting on First Street improvements coming this Thursday
Members of the Hoboken community are invited to the second public meeting for the First Street Streetscape Revitalization and city-wide wayfinding project. The meeting will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 7 p.m. in the Multi Service Center (124 Grand St.) community room. T&M Associates and its sub-consultant M Studio will present 50 percent completed design plans for the project.
Streetscape revitalization for First Street will span 12 blocks from Paterson Avenue to Bloomfield Street and will include rain gardens, curb extensions, wayfinding signage, new benches, bike parking, trash and recycling receptacles, ADA accessible curb ramps, shade trees, and banners. The meeting will review the 50 percent complete plans with the public and show how the feedback from the first public meeting has been incorporated.
At this meeting, the results of this feedback and the evolved brand concepts will be presented and will be shown on preliminary wayfinding signage, which includes gateway signage, directional blades, and kiosks. Feedback from the second meeting will be used to further refine and finalize the brand concept to be presented at the third public meeting.
Fly to the moon with the Hoboken Historical Museum April 25
The Hoboken Historical Museum’s gala celebration of Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday is rapidly approaching. “My Way,” a tribute to Hoboken’s legendary native son, will take place on Saturday, April 25 from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Hoboken Elks Club, 1005 Washington St. In a party worthy of the “Rat Pack,” revelers will be transported back to an ultra-cool 1960s-era nightclub complete with the iconic music of Sinatra.
In addition to performances by Sinatra-like crooners Peter Cafasso, Barbra Simon, and Eric DeLauro, there will be lots of dancing. The owner of Bienvenue Dance, Ekaterina Bykova, will be on hand to give lessons in the foxtrot. Guests will feast on gourmet food by Anthony David’s Catering, delicious pastry by Giorgio Pasticcerie, and a specially designed Sinatra-themed cake by Carlo’s Bakery.
As in past years, one of the highlights of the evening will be a live auction of unique offerings hosted by Hoboken restaurateur Eugene Flinn.
A portion of the proceeds from the gala will go towards refurbishing and remounting the star in front of where Sinatra’s former childhood home stood on Monroe Street. Donations to help defray the costs of the star would be greatly appreciated by the Museum. In August, an exhibit on Sinatra’s life in and influence on Hoboken will open at the Museum and run through Dec. 23.
The Museum galas sell out, so get your tickets now by going to www.hobokenmuseum.org or calling (201) 656-2240 for more information.
Palisades Medical Center CEO leads effort to improve health of Hudson County babies
More than 12,000 of New Jersey babies will be born premature this year, and Bruce J. Markowitz, president and CEO of Palisades Medical Center, is working with the March of Dimes to change this. Markowitz has taken on the role of Hudson County March for Babies Chair to raise awareness and important funding to provide for babies who are born premature or with birth defects. March for Babies, the March of Dimes largest fundraiser, will be held on April 26, at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.
March for Babies helps fund lifesaving research and educational programs aimed at helping mothers have stronger, healthy babies. Last year, in Hudson County, more than $150,000 was raised. This year, Markowitz will lead participants and the community in making a difference for the health of mothers and babies.
“I am honored to serve in the important role as the chairman of the Hudson County March for Babies,” said Markowitz. “I believe we can all rally behind the March of Dimes and its mission to help moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies.”
Hudson County residents can sign up today at www.marchforbabies.org and start a team with co-workers, family or friends. Last year, more than 650 people attended the event.
CASA wine tasting to benefit local foster children
Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) has announced its 9th Annual Wine Tasting fundraiser, featuring world-class wines, foods and desserts, VIP tasting of premium spirits, cork pull and silent auction, will take place on Friday, March 27, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Battello, at the Newport Marina at 502 Washington Blvd. in Jersey City. Proceeds from this event support CASA’s advocacy work on behalf of Hudson County foster children.
More than 90 wines selected by Cork Wine & Spirits will be featured at the tasting and accompanied by foods and desserts by Battello. A one-year family membership at Shipyard Pool in Hoboken will be among the many silent auction prizes that also includes getaways, theater and sporting event tickets and luxury items. Free valet parking will be available.
Hudson County CASA will honor Dean Bellissimo, Mark Kemper and Greg Skiff at this year’s event. Bellissimo, of Deutsche Bank and a Hoboken resident, has been a loyal sponsor of CASA’s wine tasting for the past five years. Kemper is president of the North Atlantic District of UPS. He has been an active supporter of Hudson County CASA since 2009. Skiff, a Jersey City resident, is an associate litigator at Tarter Krinsky & Drogin, a law firm in New York City. He has served as a CASA volunteer for the past five years, is a member of the Board of Trustees and will be recognized as Volunteer of the Year.
Tickets may be purchased online for $85 or at the door on the night of the event for $95. Tickets may also be purchased at Cork Wine & Spirits, 1450 Washington St., Hoboken. VIP tasting tickets will be on sale at the event. For tickets and more information, please visit www.hudsoncountycasa.org.
Fourth Annual Irish Festival will feature live music, soda bread competition
The City of Hoboken wishes the community a happy St. Patrick’s Day and invites all residents and visitors to the Fourth Annual Hoboken Irish Cultural Festival on Saturday, May 16 from noon to 6 p.m. at Sinatra Park, located on the Hoboken waterfront near Fourth Street. The event is free and features Irish music, dance, sports, food, beer, vendors, crafts, and other activities for all ages. Representatives from the Irish Consulate in New York will be in attendance at the event, which is co-hosted by Irish Network New Jersey.
The festival will feature musical performances by Gold n Brown and the Mclean Ave Band as well as bagpipe performances. There will be dance performances by the Garden Street Irish Step Dancers and Emerald Fire, Aherne Sheehan School of Irish Dance, and Kerri Smith Academy of Irish Dance
Participants interested in competing in the Irish soda bread competition should contact Geri Fallo at gfallo@hobokennj.gov or (201) 420-2207.
For children, the event will include face painting, horse and carriage rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, several inflatables, sand art and more. The event will also feature sheep shearing and wool spinning demonstrations and vendors with Irish clothing and crafts.
The Hoboken Guards Hurling Club will provide youth with instruction on playing Ireland’s 3000-year-old pastime. Hurling was played on St. Patrick’s Day in 1858 on the same baseball-born Elysian Fields in Hoboken by immigrant survivors of the famine from County Kerry, Ireland, who lived in the Five Points region of New York City.
Registration open for Art in the Park
Art in the Park is a six week creative arts program for toddlers located at Elysian Park and Pier A Park. This summer, let your child (four years and under, with a caregiver) roll around in all the messy stuff that you would never allow in your apartment! Local preschool teacher Nora will help your child dig into play dough, paint, glue, bubbles, and much, much more! This is a great opportunity for your child to socialize with other children and explore all sorts of sensory activities. Join us for water play and story time in the shade of your local park.
Just $25 for a six week session! Each session accepts 60 children. To register, visit www.hobokennj.org/register. Must have proof of residency.
Choose either early morning (9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) or mid-morning (11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) sessions.
• Pier A on Mondays: June 15, 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20
• Pier A on Wednesdays: June 17, 24, July 1, 8, 15, 22
• Elysian on Tuesdays: June 16, 23, 31, July 7, 14, 21
• Elysian on Thursdays: June 18, 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23