Enterprise shuttled over west bank of the Hudson River
After rainy weather delayed the flight of the Space Shuttle Enterprise for two days to the New York area, the spacecraft piggy-backed on a specially-outfitted Boeing 747, and made two flights up the Hudson River and back on the morning of April 27 between 10:30 and 11 a.m.
Crowds of spectators lined the west bank of the Hudson from Bayonne to Weehawken holding cameras and cell phones aloft into the bright sunny sky to capture the historic moment.
The shuttle was supposed to arrive Monday, then Wednesday, but was held up due to bad weather.
But Friday morning the spacecraft atop the 747 took off from Dulles International Airport near Washington, headed for John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
The aircraft flew near a variety of landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty.
Actually, this Enterprise, named after the spacecraft in the ‘Star Trek’ films, never flew in outer space. It is a test orbiter, used to verify orbiter aerodynamics and handling characteristics in preparation for the flights that began with the space shuttle Columbia.
In June the shuttle heads to its new home at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in Manhattan, by a less dramatic conveyance, on a barge upriver.
The Enterprise will be hoisted to the deck of the Intrepid, where it will become part of the museum’s permanent exhibit.
Weehawken Weekenders to hold several summer and fall trips
The Weehawken Weekenders will take a trip to the Platzl Brauhaus in Ponoma, N.Y., on Wednesday, June 20, for a day of fun, food, and entertainment. The day includes breakfast and lunch, followed by dinner at 4 p.m.
There will be music, dancing, and bingo, and there is a pool available for anyone who wishes to use it. The bus departs from the Weehawken Pathmark at 9 a.m. Tickets cost $70.
Weehawken Weekenders’ upcoming events include:
On July 18, they will see “The Real Husbands of New Jersey” at the Royal Manor in Garfield for $45.
On Aug. 12, they will visit Magnanini’s Winery in Wallkill, N.Y. for a wine tasting, dinner, and dancing for $75.
On Sept. 8, they will visit the Nordic Lodge with all-you-can-eat lobster and more in Charlestown, R.I., and proceed to Mohegan Sun Casino for $125.
On Oct. 3, they will attend “Octoberfest” at the Royal Manor in Garfield for $45.
All trips include transportation and gratuities. Call the Weekenders’ office at (201) 319-6059 for more information or to make a reservation.
Weehawken resident to hold free art seminar in Hoboken
Weehawken resident Gene Wisniewski will give a free lecture at Symposia Books in Hoboken entitled “What to Look for When You Look at Art” on Sunday, May 20 at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, although reservations are recommended. Symposia is located at 510 Washington Street.
For more information, call Carmen Rusu at (201) 963-0909, or email books@symposia.us or gene@genewisniewski.com.
Seminar for businesses on lobbying, issue advocacy held May 8
The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce and the Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership will host a seminar for business owners and leaders interested in learning more about lobbying and issue advocacy on Tuesday, May 8 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in Dineen Hall on the campus of Saint Peter’s College.
The goal of the event is to provide the business community with a primer on how to best engage with policy makers on issues that affect business in New Jersey. The session will be moderated by the Honorable Joseph Doria, a former commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and State Assembly Speaker. Doria will moderate a panel discussion featuring professionals who understand how to navigate policy making at the state level: Frank Robinson, vice president, New Jersey Business and Industry Association; John B. Wilson, president, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in New Jersey; and Kay LiCausi, president, Hoboken Strategy Group.
“Businesses of every size need to be engaged in policy making discussions and our goal at the Chamber is to help our members, and the larger business community, learn how to begin having such conversations,” said Maria Nieves, the Chamber’s president and CEO. “We hope to demystify the advocacy process and provide some concrete tips on how to effectively lobby. We’re pleased to work with the Guarini Institute on this event.”
The breakfast will begin with networking, followed by a panel discussion, and a question and answer session. It is sponsored in part by the Guarini Institute. Founded in 1888, the Chamber currently represents more than 300 members, facilitates forums with local, state and federal officials, and provides a platform for business networking and partnerships.
To register for this event, contact the chamber: achinni@hudsonchamber.org.
Library to host New York Times best selling author and job workshop
The Weehawken Free Public Library will host New York Times best selling author Lee Childs on Wednesday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at the Nutrition Center, located at 203 Highwood Ave. Childs is the editor of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA) 2012 themed short story collection ‘Vengeance.’ He will be joined by collection contributors Alafair Burke, Jim Fusilli and Karin Slaughter for an evening of reading, discussion and book signing.
The library will also host a free two-part job search and resume writing workshop on May 16 and 23 at 7 p.m. Expert Lisa Rangel will help attendees create attention-grabbing resumes, prepare for interviews and help lay out an effective job search plan over the course of the two sessions.
She will show participants which resume styles, wordings, and formats she and her corporate clients have responded to when recruiting top-notch candidates. Participants are encouraged to attend with a copy of their resumes to get concrete, constructive feedback on how to fix common resume mistakes. The second workshop will focus on interviewing skills and strategies to help prepare job applicants for effective interviews.
The events are open to Weehawken residents only; registration is required for both workshop sessions. For additional information please contact the library at (201) 863-7823.
NJ Festival of Ballooning holds statewide contest
PNC Bank and the Quick Chek N.J. Festival of Ballooning invite students in grades two through 12 to take part in the ninth annual PNC Bank American Patriot Essay Contest by writing a short essay on the topic “What the American Flag Means to Me.”
The largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America will celebrate its 30th anniversary July 27 through the 29 at Solberg Airport in Readington, and will feature the PNC Bank American Flag balloon: the largest free-flying flag in the world.
This year’s Grand Prize winner will receive a visit to his or her school by a 75-feet-tall hot air balloon in June and a special VIP package at this year’s festival: a hot air balloon ride for two, four Blue Sky Club VIP tickets, and the opportunity to meet one of this year’s concert headliners, which have included the Jonas Brothers and Disney stars Demi Lovato and Emily Osment in the past.
Second and third place prizes will include festival admission and merchandise.
The winning student’s immediate classmates will each receive one complimentary general admission ticket to the festival and the winning student’s teacher and school principal will each receive two Blue Sky Club VIP tickets.
Every teacher in the state who submits a group of 15 essays or more on behalf of their students will receive two free general admission tickets to the festival regardless of whether one of their students submits the winning essay.
The essays should be 100 words or less. They will be judged by a panel of representatives from PNC Bank and the balloon festival. Winning essays will be selected based on creativity, poignancy and clarity with consideration given to the grade level of the contestant. Contestants are not required to be U.S. citizens.
Entries should include the student’s name, home or school address, home or school telephone number, grade, age, school name and the name of their teacher.
Entries should be sent by May 1 to Essay Judges, Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, 363 Rte. 46 West, Suite 200, Fairfield, N.J. 07004. Students can also enter the contest through the festival web site at www.balloonfestival.com or by emailing their essays to information@balloonfestival.com.