United Way opens thrift shop to raise money for fire victims, others
In January, a six-alarm fire in Union City displaced over 60 residents. The United Way of Hudson County was there to help survivors get back on their feet by providing furniture, clothing and household items from its retail stores. Proceeds from store sales also benefit United Way’s many other programs.
On Aug. 6, UWHC celebrated the official grand opening of Common Goods, a new thrift shop at 413A 35th St. Union City. Common Goods will continue to raise funds for United Way of Hudson County and benefit neighbors in need.
“We are very excited about moving into Union City,” Lou Pantoliano, executive director, said. “Shopping never felt so good, because all money raised goes to help the community through our many programs including initiatives on education, health and income stability with a focus on ending homelessness and creating affordable housing.”
Shoppers benefit by getting great deals on housewares, décor, clothing, glassware, sofas, chairs, furniture, pictures, toys, and much more. Since all sales go back into helping the community, they can also take pride in helping their neighbors in need.
Common Goods Thrift Shop accepts donations of formerly loved or no longer needed household items, clothing and furniture. Items must be clean and in suitable condition for reuse. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Mesozoic Movies! Free series celebrates 100 years of dinosaurs on film
Field Station: Dinosaurs is celebrating 100 Years of Mesozoic Movies with their first-ever family film festival devoted entirely to the legendary stars of the triassic, jurassic and cretaceous eras. The free festival runs for four nights, Aug. 12 to 15. All show times are 7 p.m.
The festival kicks off on Tuesday night with a silent double feature: William McKay’s cartoon classic “Gertie the Dinosaur” (1914) and Harry O. Hoyt’s groundbreaking “Lost World” (1925). Considered state-of-the-art in their day, both films have been deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress.
“King Kong” swings into action on Wednesday night. One of the most iconic movies in the history of cinema, this 1933 masterpiece features stegosaurus, apatosaurus, pteranodon and, of course, T-Rex.
Science meets camp and Jurassic Park meets Gumby in 1966’s “One Million Years B.C.” on Thursday night. Director Don Chaffey gets just about everything wrong, but Ray Harryhausen’s award-winning stop action animation brings the dinosaurs to life in magnificent Technicolor.
The festival closes on Saturday with Steven Spielberg’s “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” (1997) presented by The Town of Secaucus as part of its free summer movie series.
Mesozoic Movies are free and show time is 7 p.m. Gates will open at 6:45 p.m. Guests wishing to visit Field Station: Dinosaurs’ exhibits prior to the movie can buy special Twilight Tickets for $12. Twilight Tickets are good for entrance to the park after 5 p.m. and can be purchased at the Box Office at One Dinosaur Way in Secaucus. Seating for the movies is extremely limited.
Assembly Speaker Prieto accepting private consulting work from Democratic political donors
Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto has accepted work consulting with private clients, including major political donors, according to The Star-Ledger. Among his clients is All-Risk Property Damage Experts, a privately-owned disaster recovery business.
All-Risk’s owner, George Norcross, along with his wife, daughter, and the company itself have made nearly $85,000 in state and local political donations or loans to political organizations since 2000, the vast majority of them to South Jersey Democrats, the article states.
Prieto dismissed the suggestion that private consulting could make him susceptible to political pressure. The nature of Prieto’s consulting work was not specified, nor were the names of any other clients.
In addition to his role as assembly speaker, Prieto serves as code inspector for Secaucus and construction official in Guttenberg. A former plumber, he told the paper that he began consulting in the private sector this year for plumbers and other companies. “I will of course disclose all the relevant information as required in upcoming financial disclosure reports, all while continuing to properly balance my public service with my private business,” he said.