Jorge Roque, brother of WNY mayor, passes at age 51
“He was the most caring, happiest, hard-working man I ever met in my life,” West New York Mayor Felix Roque said Tuesday about his 51-year-old brother Jorge, who died of a heart attack early last Sunday morning.
“Jorge used to work until wee hours of the morning, and his three daughters were the love of his life,” he added.
Jorge Roque was a plumbing supervisor for the Union City Housing Authority for 20 years and is survived by his wife Jenny and his three children: Jelissa (22), Christine (16), and Alexandra (14).
“He was like my body guard—even though he was smaller than me, he was tough,” Mayor Roque said.
The viewing took place at Morgado funeral home in Union City. Over 2,000 people attended, Roque said. People were lined up on Bergenline Ave.
The funeral was held on Wednesday at Our Lady of Grace church in Fairview, NJ.
Mayor Roque has plans in the works to start a nightly West New York soup kitchen in his honor named the “Brother Jorge Foundation,” as the two used to refer to each other as either brother Felix or brother Jorge.
“Jorge never had money because he was always giving it away,” Roque said. And as for why he chose to start the soup kitchen, he continued, “He was always surrounded by kids he’d bought ice cream for. If he had a sandwich, he’d always give you half.”
UC Mobile City Hall to visit Kennedy Blvd. Wednesday
Mayor Brian Stack and the City of Union City’s Mobile City Hall will be visiting Eugenio Maria de Hostos Center for Early Childhood Education at 2200 Kennedy Blvd. on Wednesday, Jan. 18 between 6 and 8 p.m.
Stack suggests making a separate appointment to those who cannot attend by calling (201) 376-1942.
WNY mayor’s ‘military charter school’ among those up for approval by state Dept. of Education
The state Department of Education was expected to consider 17 new charter school proposals in Trenton on Friday, Jan. 6; one of which is West New York Mayor Felix Roque’s proposed military charter school.
The 17 proposals were selected by the NJDOE from the 42 applications they received in October. Applicants who made the first cut were set to re-present their plans Friday. The NJDOE will spend the next few weeks in further review before they announce their final decision on Jan. 17.
“This is history in the making,” Roque said. “It would be the first military charter school in the state.”
Roque is on active reserve duty as a colonel for the U.S. Army.
The approved charter schools would add to the current total of 80 independently-run, publically-funded New Jersey schools, not including the 25 approved last year for 2012.
Most of the county’s charter schools are in either Hoboken or Jersey City.
61-year-old man charged with unlawful possession of machete
61-year-old William Rodriguez was arrested on Jan. 4 at 9:25 a.m. and charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and weapon possession for unlawful purposes, police said.
Officer Jesus Vargas responded to a call on the 600 block in West New York where a 38-year-old man reported that, after he had parked his girlfriend’s car, Rodriguez allegedly began screaming in his direction. After the victim asked, “Are you talking to me?” Rodriguez allegedly pulled a machete from his white van and began to approach the victim, who then ran into his apartment and called the police.
Two officers located a white van matching the description, and Rodriguez admitted it belonged to him, according to police. He was arrested. Police later found Rodriguez had $1,590 worth of outstanding warrants.
Machete crimes are a trend in the Union City/West New York area, and their sale in Union City stores was banned last year by an ordinance.
Registration to be held for free performing arts classes
The Grace Theatre Workshop, Inc. will hold registration for its professional theatre training program for children ages 8 and up from Monday through Thursday, Jan. 23 to Feb. 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Jose Marti Freshman Academy, 1800 Summit Ave., Union City.
The workshop will provide free ballet, jazz, hip hop, salsa, tap/rhythm, singing, and acting classes.
To register, children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Registration fee is $25 per student, but classes are free and open to all Hudson County residents. All of the instructors are professional performers. Adult classes in Salsa dancing are also offered at no cost.
For information, call (201) 864-7149 or visit www.GraceTheatre.com.
Union City to open new art exhibit
The Union City Museum of Art will host the opening reception for Craig Radhuber and Abby Levine’s new art exhibit entitled “All Too Human” on Friday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. at the William V. Musto Cultural Center located at 420 15th St. The artists will be in attendance, there will be live jazz music by the James Austin Trio, and refreshments will be served.
Admission to the event is free, and everyone in the community is invited to attend.