West New York Swim Club to open soon

May 26, 2021

06wnyswim03 — The WNY Swim Club is free for residents this year.

Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez and the Board of Commissioners have announced the opening of the West New York Swim Club, which will start on May 29. The pool will open on weekends for residents only until June 26, and from that date forward it will operate seven days a week.

“We are pleased to announce the opening of the town pool for the 2021 summer season. As we continue working through the pandemic, we are happy to provide this season’s pool admission free of charge to all our West New York residents,” Rodriguez said.

“All visits shall be by way of reservation. Time slots and capacity will be limited to conform with guidelines and our new normal. We look forward to seeing our children enjoy our swim club this summer and thank all our residents for their patience and cooperation as we continue to move forward.”

Registration and residency required

Registration will be required, as COVID-19 restrictions limit the number of people who may be in the facility at one time. Register at westnewyorknj.org.

“Offering safe outdoor recreation activities during the summer months is imperative to the physical and mental wellbeing of our residents,” said Commissioner Cosmo Cirillo, who oversees the Division of Recreation. “We will have three daily sessions during our days of operation with time in between to sanitize. The hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents will be limited to one free three-hour session per day. We want our residents to beat the summer heat at our beautiful Swim Club and enjoy the splendid New York City view.”

Register via the registration portal; those not registered will not be allowed in. Capacity will be limited to 150 people per session.

Appointments will open a week before, so residents can schedule their visits. For help, call 201-295-5120.

“We have made significant investments in our swim club complex and are continuing to improve the facility for our West New York children and families,” said Commissioner Victor M. Barrera, who oversees Parks and Public Property. “We are all excited to welcome our residents this season!”

For more information on the West New York Swim Club, visit westnewyorknj.org.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

State should fix ‘unenforceable’ Payroll Tax

Hudson Reporter

May 26, 2021

06jctax03 — Mayor Steven Fulop said the state needs to collect the Payroll Tax in order to keep businesses accountable.

Mayor Steven Fulop is calling on the state Legislature to fix the current Payroll Tax, which he said is practically optional as it stands today.

“The current Payroll Tax from Trenton lacks any real teeth, and so we’re forced to deploy our resources on the local level to try and enforce something that is essentially unenforceable,” Fulop said.

During a joint meeting of the City Council and Board of Education to discuss the public school district’s financial woes in May, Fulop highlighted this flaw in the Payroll Tax legislation, which had been implemented to help address the state’s financial cuts to the district.

It was originally estimated to bring the district roughly $100 million annually, but so far it has reached only $86 million – a figure that decreased this year to $65 million.

Now, the Fulop Administration is working with local legislators to amend the Payroll Tax legislation at the state level. To close the payment accountability loophole, the state would collect payroll taxes directly, since the information necessary for enforcement is available to Trenton and not at the local level.

Most of the applicable information is regularly obtained by the state through quarterly reports, such as business identification data critical for enforcement, but it is not shared with the city for privacy protection reasons.

Millions more

“Without critical information from the state, the city is unable to place liens, as the number of employees working at any establishment is opaque,” Fulop said. “The inability to place a lien on a business that doesn’t pay means that the city can’t move forward with tax lien sales, as we would with property taxes, because nobody would ever purchase a lien to which they don’t know the value. This can be cleared up by the state easily and increase collections by more than 33 percent overall for next year, which would mean tens of millions of dollars more to our schools.”

Jersey City adopted the Payroll Tax Ordinance in November 2018. The ordinance established a 1 percent payroll tax on an employer’s gross payroll to benefit Jersey City public schools. Employers are required to file and pay the new tax on a quarterly basis. Employees of the municipality, school district, and those who live in Jersey City are exempt from the tax, but not subcontractors for the city or schools.

Since then, nearly 3,300 businesses have registered with the city, according to the administration.

The ordinance requires employers to register even if they are not subject to the tax, but, according to Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, the state legislation lacks the tools to hold businesses accountable.

“What’s the point of enabling a municipal payroll tax to fund our schools if it isn’t coupled with the tools to enforce and collect?” said Mukherji. “Moving the collection function to the state is only logical so that employers are actually held accountable for their payroll tax obligations.”

The Fulop Administration has made multiple efforts to promote compliance on the local level, including creating an internal audit team.

According to the city, the findings from the audit have been reviewed by internal and external auditors working as a committee and addressed through notices to the entities.

The team has increased efforts to collect taxes and penalties owed by sending out deficiency letters, conducting site visits, and making phone calls to each business owner.

“If any homeowner defaulted on their taxes, they’d quickly be slapped with a lien, and the value of the lien would be clear to everyone as the city and the property know what the unpaid dollar amount is,” said Fulop. “Businesses face little to no repercussions if they evade payment on the payroll tax because the city wasn’t provided the tools to enforce the tax with transparency. It needs to be fixed and can be fixed easily by Trenton.”

For updates on this and other stories follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Marilyn Baer can be reached at [email protected].

Union City prohibits recreational pot establishments

Hudson Reporter

May 22, 2021

05uccannabis27 — Grow operations like this are prohibited in Union City.

The Board of Commissioners and the Planning Board have prohibited recreational cannabis establishments.

Mayor Brian Stack, who is also a State Senator for the 33rd Legislative District, which included Union City, defended the decision when the ordinances were introduced in April, despite voting in favor of the legislation legalizing recreational cannabis in New Jersey in the state senate.

“As a State Senator, I voted in support of the legislation because a majority of New Jerseyans are in favor of it,” Stack said in a statement. “As a mayor, I get dozens of calls a week concerning people smoking marijuana and other issues surrounding quality of life. Union City is just too densely populated to become a location for recreational sales.”

The move to ban recreational cannabis establishments comes at time when many municipalities in the county are debating how to handle the new industry. Years before November’s referendum passed, Union City was one of three municipalities that preemptively banned the sale of recreational cannabis, Secaucus and Weehawken were the others.

The referendum has made these bans invalid. Municipalities can establish new prohibitions banning the sale of recreational weed, but residents can light up regardless of where they live.

Countywide?

It’s unclear clear if Weehawken or Secaucus will reintroduce a ban. Secaucus is home to Harmony Dispensary, thought to be the only medical cannabis establishment in the county.

Under the new laws, the dispensary would be able to sell pot recreationally if it proves it has enough supply to support its medical patients. If Secaucus lifts its ban, Harmony could be the first dispensary to sell recreational cannabis in the county.

Harmony is looking to expand, eyeing potential locations for medical dispensaries in Hoboken and Jersey City. Both cities have been at the forefront of embracing medical and recreational cannabis.

Another medical cannabis dispensary, Terrapin, is considering opening a shop in Hoboken. Recently, the city council introduced zoning ordinances regulating the cannabis industry.

In Jersey City, the council adopted an ordinance allocating 100 percent of the 2 percent tax on medical cannabis to be deposited in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. According to the city, four medical dispensaries are currently “in the pipeline.”

In Bayonne, the city council has approved an ordinance establishing licenses for the establishments, limiting the number to four. Ordinances further regulating the industry, such as locations, are in the works.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

North Bergen launches outdoor movie season

Hudson Reporter

May 22, 2021

05nbmovie27 — The first screening of the season was held on May 18. Photo by Art Schwartz.

On a gorgeous night under the stars, the township launched its summer movie season with a screening of the animated family favorite “The Secret Life of Pets 2.”

Free popcorn and beverages were available to families who gathered on May 18 in the parking lot next to the uptown library. Chairs were provided for safe social distancing.

More outdoor movies will be announced soon in parks and other locations throughout the township. Check northbergen.org or official social media pages.

Bygone COVID tradition

Last year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the township held drive-in movies at a few locations. This was commonplace across the county, including in Bayonne and Secaucus.

The popup drive-in theaters were a hit last summer, but they may again be a thing of the past as many virus restrictions have been lifted.

Children enjoy a drive-in movie in North Bergen in July of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the township, there are no plans for drive-in movies. Outdoor movies will be available every Tuesday at various locations.

The memory of the drive-in theater lives on as the movies are shown on the portable, inflatable screen used for the drive-in movies.

As New Jersey vaccinates more residents, state restrictions continue to be lifted. Recently, North Bergen reached a milestone having fully vaccinated 44 percent of all adults. At least 57 percent of residents have received one vaccine dose.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

Art House Productions Celebrates Artists with Disabilities for Virtual Access JC Fridays on June 4, 2021

Hudson Reporter

May 21, 2021

Poster-June-Access-JC-Fridays-2021 — Virtual Access JC Fridays June 2021 Poster

Art House Productions has announced “Virtual Access JC Fridays,” on Friday, June 4 at 6 – 9 p.m. online via Zoom. Jersey City’s premiere quarterly arts festival will showcase a variety of happenings including visual art exhibitions, music and dance performances, art demonstrations, and studio tours from 20 participating artists and organizations.

The full event descriptions are available on www.jcfridays.com.

Access JC Fridays aims to be inclusive and encourages participants to present work from artists with disabilities and/or work that celebrates disability in its many forms. 55% of the presenters are showcasing work from artists with disabilities in their segments.

“Virtual Access JC Fridays is an incredible opportunity to meet all types of artists with disabilities, and for those artists to showcase their work in a completely accessible setting,” says Art House Access Committee Chair Rachel Handler.

“It is imperative for arts organizations to not only make their programs accessible for patrons, but also for artists themselves,” says Producing Director Courtney Little. “Virtual Access JC Fridays puts inclusivity at the forefront of our quarterly festival, giving these talented artists an intentional platform to meet new patrons and sell their work. The virtual format allows artists the ability to present from wherever they are most comfortable, eliminating some of the barriers that artists with disabilities frequently face.”

Admission is free, advance registration is required to receive the Zoom link. To register, please visit www.jcfridays.com. The event will feature live ASL interpreters and Closed Captions. For questions about accessibility and patrons services, please email [email protected].

JC Fridays is sponsored by Jersey City Municipal Council & Cultural Affairs, Historic Downtown SID, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance. Support for Access expenses on this program provided in part through funding from Access A.R.T./New York, a program of the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T./New York).

Virtual Access JC Fridays Lineup – June 4, 2021

6:00pm – 7:00pm EST: The Heights, Greenville, West Side & Historic Downtown
THE SENSATIONAL COUNTRY BLUES WONDERS! The World Will Break Your Heart
AMY NEUFELD A Stroll Through the Ethereal Forest
PROJECT GREENVILLE Lemonade *
KAREN CARATTINI Artist Profile
ANDREA DRENZEK Tiny Scenes from Everyday Things
WARREN MAYENGA Artist Profile
THE ARTS ACCESS PROGRAM AT MATHENY I Need A Video Camera
SILVERMAN AND THE HAMILTON SQUARE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION The Arrival: Expressions of Nohi *

7:00pm – 8:00pm EST: Historic Downtown
ART HOUSE GALLERY Living with the INVISIBLE
THEDA SANDIFORD ART Emotional Baggage Carts
PRO ARTS JERSEY CITY Resilient
NOW PROJECT SPACE Art in Isolation *
ART FAIR 14C Resident Artist Danielle Scott *
KAREN HARRIS PHOTOGRAPHY Artist Profile

8:00pm – 9:00pm EST: Historic Downtown & Journal Square
JACK HALPIN Singer/Songwriter Jack Halpin
ED & MARY’S Chopped Art Edition *
DVORA GALLERY Jocelyn Fine Paintings/Rainbow Thursdays Artists *
ART HOUSE PRODUCTIONS John McGinty: In Performance
VILLAGE WEST GALLERY Juichigatsu in Jersey City – work from 5 Japanese artists
REFINED ARTIST Acrylic Paintings and Graphic Design Prints
SPERANZA THEATRE COMPANY Poetry with Speranza
MONIRA FOUNDATION Tales Told from Fold Out Chairs by Azikiwe Mohammed and in heaven’s wakanda by Rashad Wright

Presenters with a * next to their listing have an in-person component to their event. To read more, click here.

Zoom is an online video conferencing software that allows you to virtually interact when in-person meetings and events aren’t possible. Participants must have wifi, download the application on a computer or smartphone, and sign up for a free Zoom account to participate. The Art House staff are available to help troubleshoot registration and download; please email [email protected] for assistance.

Art House Productions is generously supported by The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, MACK-CALI Realty, SILVERMAN, The Princeton Foundation, The New Jersey Theatre Alliance, The Hudson County Office of Cultural Affairs, Masterwork Arts, and Genova Burns.

Art House Productions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to the development and presentation of the performing and visual arts in Jersey City, NJ. Art House Productions presents theater, performing and visual arts festivals, arts events, visual art exhibitions, and adult and youth art classes. For more information about Art House programs, please visit our website at www.arthouseproductions.org. Follow on social media @arthouseproductions @arthouseprods To sign up for Art House’s mailing list, please click here: http://eepurl.com/hd1FCj.

Weehawken has vaccinated more than half of adults

Hudson Reporter

May 15, 2021

05weeupdate20 — Mayor Richard Turner observes a frontline worker's vaccination on Dec. 26.

Weehawken has vaccinated 55 percent of its adults, according to a COVID-19 update, administering doses to eligible residents at a joint site with Union City and the North Hudson Community Action Corp.

“We can do better! We must do better! Herd Immunity requires 70 to 80 percent of the adult population to be vaccinated,” Mayor Richard Turner said.

Call 201-319-6005 or go to hudsonvax.us/weehawken to register. The township has been offering walk-in vaccinations at popup sites.

For more information, visit weehawken-nj.us and social media pages.

Other locations

Weehawken residents can get vaccinate in West New York at Holy Name Medical Center at the Memorial High School gymnasium, Broadway and 55th Street.

To register, visit vaccine.holyname.org or westnewyorknj.org/pages/covid-19. The site is distributing the Pfizer vaccine.

To register at the Hudson County Vaccination Distribution Center, go to hudsoncovidvax.org. To register at one of the state’s vaccination mega-sites go to covidvaccine.nj.gov.

By the numbers

Active COVID-19 cases in Weehawken are on the decline.

The township currently has 129 active cases, 1,387 recoveries, and 29 deaths as of May 12. The case count is down from around a peak of 190 in April.

Testing is available to residents at the joint testing site between Weehawken and Union City on 36th Street between Bergenline Ave. and Kennedy Blvd. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m; Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointments required.

Restrictions lifted

A number of things have reopened to the public without the need for an appointment, including the Municipal Building, the Parking Authority, and the Public Library. The township’s curfew has been lifted.

But the State of Emergency remains in effect. The Municipal court is still virtual. The shuttle is still suspended.

The state has lifted restrictions, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announce that fully vaccinated residents no longer need to wear masks except when required by law.

Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign an executive order that would remove the fixed, percentage-based capacity limits on establishments, including restaurants, gyms, retail businesses, churches, while also ending all outdoor gathering limits. Mask wearing and social distancing will stay in place.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

Union City offers small business grants

Hudson Reporter

May 14, 2021

Union City has grants to assist small businesses facing financial difficulties due to COVID-19.

“I have created the Union City Small Business Grant Program through a federal grant given to the city,” Mayor Brian Stack said. “The grant was created in order to assistant small businesses who suffered an interruption of their businesses due to the pandemic.”

The program will offer up to $5,000 to cover eligible expenses incurred, financed through Community Development Block Grant funds. Funding is limited and will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis.

To apply, visit ucnj.com or call 201-348-5731.

Eligibility requirements

The business must be a for-profit or non-for profit entity in Union City to be eligible. A business cannot have more than 25 full-time equivalent employees per week regardless of the number of business locations.

No business will receive a grant in excess of $5,000. However, at the option of the grantor, the grantee may receive a grant in a greater or lesser amount depending on availability of funds and need.

The grant will be used to reimburse eligible businesses for costs and expenses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic resulting from business closure, partial closure, or business interruption. The grant may be used to pay for expenses and or reimbursements relating to employee salaries; mortgage payments; business loan payments; equipment leases or finance payments; and utility payments. Use of grant funds for employee salaries may include salary paid to the owner or principal of the owner of the business applicant.

The grant may be used to pay for these aforementioned eligible expenses incurred or anticipated to be incurred from March 15, 2020, to December 31, 2021. No grant application can be submitted for nor can grant funds be used to pay for any of the eligible expenses which are or have been the subject of any insurance claims or claims made with any other source, whether governmental or private, and for which a reimbursement payment is actually received.

The owner of a business for which an applicant submits an application must certify under oath to the accuracy of any statement or representation contained in a grant application or a document submitted in support of a grant application. Any business that files a fraudulent grant application or misuses grant funds will be obligated to return any funds improperly received plus interest at the rate of 1 percent per annum.

Other opportunities

The second program is through the Small Business Administration. It has a grant and loan program to assist small businesses struggling to recover from the pandemic. For more information on these grants and loans, contact the SBA at [email protected] or 1-800-659-2955.

“As programs are announced, I will inform you,” Stack said. “More people are getting vaccinated than before, and I am confident that there will be an end to the pandemic. We are all in this together, and we will get through it. I am here for you, so please call me any time, if I can be of assistance.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

North Bergen Health Officer Janet Castro is ‘Woman of the Year’

Hudson Reporter

May 5, 2021

05nbhonor13 — Janet Castro (left) and Sai Rao

Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Board of Commissioners recently presented certificates of appreciation to North Bergen’s Women of the Year for 2021 and 2020. Health Officer Janet Castro was named the Township’s Woman of the Year 2021 by Hudson County in late March, and Library Executive Director Sai Rao received the honor in 2020.

County Commissioner Anthony Vainieri presented the women with county proclamations. Also on hand were Commissioners Hugo Cabrera, Frank Gargiulo, Julio Marenco, and Allen Pascual; Schools Superintendent Dr. George Solter; EMS Chief David Prina; NHRFR Executive Director Michael DeOrio, and many other officials.

‘Exceeding everyone’s expectations’

Due to the rapid onset of the pandemic, there was no official presentation last year for winner Sai Rao. A resident of North Bergen for 30 years, she is the first woman Executive Director of the Township’s Free Public Library.

“While striving to meet the needs of her community, Sai passionately serves residents by continually gauging their needs and exceeding their expectations,” the proclamation reads. A winner of the New York Times Librarian of the Year Award, Sai “has secured many grants which provide a myriad of services and resources for the community, such as career assistance, citizenship training, adult education, technology, collection, programming, health, youth services, construction, and more.”

Sai is a member of the North Bergen Board of Education and is president of the Hudson County Library Directors Association. She is a member of the BCCLS Executive Board, Scholarship Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and the chair of the Capital Plan Task Force and Branding Task Force. She also serves on the Community Relations Committee at HackensackUMC Palisades Hospital.

Castro honored again

Janet Castro has served in the North Bergen Health Department for 17 years and as the township’s licensed health officer since 2014. Through shared services agreements with neighboring municipalities, she also represents Union City, Guttenberg, Weehawken, Secaucus, and Harrison.

The county proclamation states, “Janet has proven herself to be an incredibly dedicated public servant, especially in the last year when she guided the Township of North Bergen’s comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In April, Castro was named one of Hudson County Women’s History Month Honorees, with designees chosen from each town. Castro received the honor for her work as health officer throughout the pandemic, including spearheading COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and vaccinations.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

How to get vaccinated in Union City

Hudson Reporter

April 30, 2021

05nhvaccine06 — Mayor Brian Stack watches a frontline worker get vaccinated.

More COVID-19 vaccine appointments are now available in Union City at the Hillside Pavilion in the Union City Housing Authority, 3911 Kennedy Boulevard. The site, operating in conjunction with Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Residents can register at hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19. There are also limited walk-in appointments.

Union City has been vaccinating residents at a joint vaccination site with Weehawken since December. To register, go to northhudsonvax.org.

Union City residents can also get vaccinated in West New York at the site opened in conjunction with Holy Name Medical Center. The WNY site is at the Memorial High School gymnasium, at Broadway and 55th Street.

To register, visit vaccine.holyname.org or register at westnewyorknj.org/pages/covid-19. The site is distributing the Pfizer vaccine.

To register at the Hudson County Vaccination Distribution Center, go to hudsoncovidvax.org. To register at one of the state’s vaccination mega-sites go to covidvaccine.nj.gov.

Get inoculated

“It is very important for all those who are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine,” Mayor Brian Stack said. “The vaccines remain safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.”

Based on clinical trials and early data, getting vaccinated will prevent COVID-19, or substantially lessen symptoms if you do contract the virus, Stack said.

“Equally important, getting vaccinated helps to protect those around you, especially senior citizens and those who have underlying health conditions,” Stack said. “It is also important to know that the vaccine cannot make you sick with the COVID-19 virus.”

The more people who are vaccinated, the less the virus will spread and the sooner we can get back to normal, Stack said.

“Fully vaccinated individuals can travel domestically without testing and quarantining and visit indoors with other fully vaccinated friends and family,” Stack said. “This terrible virus has robbed us of our important milestones and events, holidays, and for many, even loved ones. The only way to get through this is for as many people to get vaccinated as possible.”

For assistance or to get vaccinated, Union City residents can all Stack’s office at 201-348-5747 or his cell at 201-376-1942.

Stack asks residents to still wear masks, wash their hands, and socially distance.

“I cannot stress enough the importance of getting vaccinated,” Stack said. “Get the vaccine to protect you, and get it to protect your friends and family.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

Pushcart Players Artistic Director Performs “ART” Zoom Reading

Hudson Reporter

April 29, 2021

Pushcart Players artistic director Paul Whelihan will perform in Zoom readings of “ART,” a play by Yasmine Reza on Thursday May 6 and Friday May 7 at 7:30 pm. The production is directed by Dov Tiefenbach. It explores friendship, mortality, and, of course, art. The performance is free, yet welcome donations will benefit Pushcart Players, and the future live production.

“’ART’” tells the comedic story of three long-time friends: Serge, Marc, and Yvan, whose relationship is put to the test when Serge purchases a completely modern painting,” said Jim Watt, producer. “The high-price purchase sets off a heated exchange about what constitutes ‘art,’ and quickly becomes more personal as the three resentfully bring up their individual failures. Will these friendships be forever destroyed?”

“We’re excited to present this reading. The virtual streaming with actors in remote locations (New York, New Jersey, Canada, Los Angeles) has allowed us to perform a wonderful script in an alternative medium full of creative opportunities.”

The cast features Paul Whelihan as Marc, Jim Kempner as Serge, and Christopher Redman as Yvan.

Paul Whelihan performs, directs, and stage-manages off-Broadway (47^th Street Theater, 59 East 59 Theatres, NY Fringe Festival, 54 Below, TheaterLab) and regionally (Bickford Theater, Forum Theater Arts, Royal Poincianna, Broward Center, Centenary Stage, Growing Stage, Luna Stage Company, Premiere Stages, Quillo Arts Center). Roles include Tevye in “Fiddler…,” Pseudolus in “…Forum,” Noah in “Two By Two,” Miss Texas in “Pageant,” Crouch in “Not Now, Darling,” and he originated roles of Gruber in “The Flame Keeper,” Branch Rickey in “Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting,” Stanley in “Kiss the Bride,” and the Mayor in Sheldon Harnick’s “Dragons.”

Jim Kempner is an actor who also specializes in contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, and work on paper, with an emphasis on contemporary master prints and outdoor sculpture (https://www.jimkempnerfineart.com/). Kempner’s inventory appeals to the established as well as beginning collectors. They work closely with art advisors, designers, corporations, and museums to expand and enrich their varied collections.

Christopher Redman is an award winning actor, writer, and producer. As an actor he has appeared in over a hundred TV and film productions including the latest season of Genius : Aretha as Clive Davis opposite Cynthia Erivo. Recently he’s been seen in the Netflix Original hit series Workin’ Moms where he played “Brad” throughout season 2, God Friended Me for CBS and is currently in production on the thriller series The Old Man for FX with Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow. Christopher is the subject and producer of the lifelong docu series The Decades Project which explores how friendship evolves over long periods of time. He is also a producer and comedy writer for the Webby Award winning podcast company Kelly&Kelly out of Vancouver.

Director Dov Tiefenbach played the lead role Nick Burns in the 1996 Broadway production A Thousand Clowns alongside actor Judd Hirsch. After returning to Toronto, In 2003 he won a Leo Award for Best Supporting Male Performance in Flower & Garnet (2002). His most recent roles include the reclusive writer Lucky Carroway in the television series This Space for Rent (2006), the troubled young Adrian in the psychological thriller The Dark Hours (2005) and the hippie drug dealer Bradley Thomas in the comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004).

Pushcart Players Pushcart Players is NJ’s premiere touring theater company specializing in arts education for children. Twice nominated for an Emmy©, Pushcart is the recipient of numerous state and private awards for excellence and innovation. Founded in 1974, Pushcart brings substantive musical theater, workshops, and residencies to young people in schools and theaters nationwide. The company has traveled more than 2.5 million miles nationally and abroad, from the rural red schoolhouse to the nation’s White House.

“I am very grateful to have the opportunity to explore this terrific play with an exceptional team of artists,” said Paul Whelihan. “I am even more grateful that these efforts will benefit Pushcart Players’ mission to uplift ART in all its forms”

Attendance at the Zoom readings of ART can be confirmed here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hJAkyYZGSq6ivLB4liwdPg

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West New York Swim Club to open soon

State should fix ‘unenforceable’ Payroll Tax

Union City prohibits recreational pot establishments

North Bergen launches outdoor movie season

Art House Productions Celebrates Artists with Disabilities for Virtual Access JC Fridays on June 4, 2021

Weehawken has vaccinated more than half of adults

Union City offers small business grants

North Bergen Health Officer Janet Castro is ‘Woman of the Year’

How to get vaccinated in Union City

Pushcart Players Artistic Director Performs “ART” Zoom Reading

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