WNY swears in three new police officers
Three new patrol officers were sworn in to duty on July 19 in a ceremony at City Hall presided over by Commissioner of Public Safety Caridad Rodriguez.
Carin Carrasquillo, 32, is a lifelong West New York resident and graduate of Memorial High and HCCC. She is currently working toward a B.A. in sociology and she served in the US Navy. She works for the Hudson County Superior Court as a jury management manager. David Funcasta, 27, is also a lifelong resident and graduate of Memorial High and Full Sail University. He works at the Health Center Pharmacy. Orlando Garcia, 34 and a lifelong resident, is a graduate of Memorial High and HCCC and works as a telecommunications operator. He is also a volunteer coach for basketball and little league in West New York.
Union City presents shows
The city of Union City, Mayor Brian Stack and the Board of Commissioners will present a two-show program beginning with the play “El Triste Olvido” (presented in Spanish) and ending with the young musicians’ “Rising Star Concert” beginning at 8 p.m. on Aug. 2, sponsored by the Hudson Foundation.
“El Triste Olvido” was written by Juan Guzman, the winner of the second annual Monologando Ando 2012.
The Young Musicians’ Classical Concert will be presented by the Hudson Foundation and NYICF.
The event takes place at the William V. Musto Cultural Center, 420 15th St., Union City. Admission is free. For more information, check out http://unioncityartscene.blogspot.com/2013/07/two-shows-in-one.html.
Governor doubtful ‘American Dream’ will open in time for Super Bowl
Gov. Chris Christie says he currently has no power to affect the completion of the American Dream entertainment complex on Route 3, and is doubtful it will premier by the time the Meadowlands hosts the 2014 Super Bowl in East Rutherford on Feb. 2, according to a report by Bloomberg online.
“I personally can’t do anything more than what’s already been done,” the governor told the media on July 17. “We’re within a window now where I think it would be very difficult to have anything significant open in time for the Super Bowl.”
The $3.7 billion mega entertainment and retail center, in planning stages for 10 years, was the victim of the recession, as well as squabbling over traffic issues with the two nearby NFL teams, other lawsuits, and delays due to financing, labor contracts, and property control.
The project has already had three developers and two names. Four New Jersey governors have been involved with it. Christie, who had signed off on the project, originally expected the mall and sports center to open prior to the Super Bowl.
The former Xanadu project is located across from MetLife Stadium, where the New York Giants and Jets both play. The teams are suing, saying the complex will adversely affect its fans attending games. American Dream officials feel the opposite, contending it will give those fans alternative entertainment and shopping options on game days.
Oktoberfest-in-August celebration set for Aug. 17 and 18
The annual Oktoberfest-in-August celebration sponsored by the Plattduetsche Volksfest-Vereen (PVV) of New York and New Jersey will be held in the Grand Ballroom in Schuetzen Park, 3167 Kennedy Blvd., as well as outdoors in the park on Saturday, Aug. 17, and Sunday, Aug. 18.
The festival opens at noon on both days, with activities scheduled starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
“As one of the largest German-American cultural and charitable organizations in New Jersey, we are always grateful to greet people of German extraction, as well as others of other ethnic and racial backgrounds,” said President Teri Nemeth.
Food stands will feature homemade potato pancakes and other delicacies. In addition, there will be an array of display stands that will offer German souvenirs.
Profits from the festival will be donated to the Fritz Reuter Altenheim Home and other charities.
There will be a German church service in the home chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Guided tours of the home will be conducted both days.
For more information on the celebration, call (201) 864-3245.