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TASTY TIDBITS Marist girls look to enjoy similar success

Jim Hague, Sports Columnist
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TASTY TIDBITS Marist girls look to enjoy similar success

The Marist High School girls’ basketball team was perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2016-17 season in all of New Jersey basketball.
The Lady Knights posted a 24-2 record, advancing undefeated to the Hudson County Tournament finals where they lost to Secaucus. The Lady Knights then defeated Hudson County foes St. Dominic Academy and Hudson Catholic in the NJSIAA Non-Public B state tournament before falling to Saddle River Day in the sectional semifinals.
Needless to say, it was a great year for coach Reggie Quinn and the Knights.
Now, a year later, there are no surprises. Despite losing Hudson Reporter All-Area First Team honoree Emely Rosario to graduation (Eastern Kentucky University), the Knights are loaded for bear this time around, willing to take on any and all comers.
“I think last year was huge, putting our program back on the map,” Quinn said. “The goal is to play all the top teams in the area in Bergen County and Essex County. We’re up to the challenge.”
The Royal Knights return one of the top players in Hudson County in junior guard Breyanna Frazier, who has been a Hudson Reporter All-Area First Team honoree in both of her high school seasons.
The 5-foot-9 Frazier averaged 17.1 points and six rebounds per game last year as the off-guard. This year, Frazier slides over to be the Knights’ point guard now that Rosario is in college.
“I want to see some improvement in her rebounding and assists,” Quinn said of Frazier. “It’s going to be a challenge for her being the lead guard now. She also has to be the team leader. I think she’s up for the challenge. She’s only going to get better as a point guard. We’re going to start her there and see how it goes.”
But Frazier is the lone returning player from last year’s magical 24-2 run.
“We basically have a whole new team,” Quinn said. “Can we say we’ll be undefeated again? We know that doesn’t happen often. We will find out the identity of this team in a hurry.”
The Royal Knights have benefitted from the closure of St. Anthony High School, gaining a handful of players who will have an immediate impact with the Knights.
Leading the way is 5-foot-8 senior guard Zyearah Taylor-Gaston, who scored more than 1,000 points during her three-year stint at St. Anthony and was a former Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week and Hudson Reporter All-Area honoree in 2016 (First Team) and 2015 (Third Team).
“She has good scoring ability,” Quinn said. “No one who has ever seen her play could deny that. She’s going to be a good fit for us. She once averaged 22 per game. You can’t replace her experience.”
Quinn definitely benefitted from the closure of St. Anthony, because three of his starting players are former Friars.
Senior Trinidy Alicea is a 5-foot-7 swing player who could play either guard or forward.
“She’s a very good player,” Quinn said. “She’s a very good on-the-ball defender. We just have to see if she can play at a higher level.”
Serenity Jackson is a 5-foot-8 forward who also played last season for St. Anthony.
Another talented transfer is 5-foot-7 sophomore Nia Scott, who comes to Marist from J.P. Stevens High in Edison.
“I predict good things from her,” Quinn said of Scott. “She can play the point or be the off guard. She’s very aggressive going to the basket and can make plays. I expect huge things from her.”
Junior Ciara Castillo is a 5-foot-2 guard who can step in and play the point in place of Frazier. Castillo saw a lot of action at point guard for the Knights last year, learning a lot from Rosario.
The Knights have two freshmen who will see playing time in 5-foot-3 guard Monaysia Emerson and 5-foot-7 forward Ijahne Smart.
The Knights will continue with a tradition that was started by the late great coach Bill DeFazio and host a top-flight Christmas tournament Dec. 27, 28 and 30, featuring a lot of New York’s top programs like Moore Catholic, Notre Dame, St. Joseph’s of Brooklyn, Petridis and Tottenville. New Jersey programs like Hackensack and East Orange are also part of the eight-team field. It should be a basketball bonanza at Marist, much like the way DeFazio constructed during his legendary tenure.
The Knights opened against Hoboken this weekend as well as Trenton Catholic. They will face St. Dominic Academy this week.
Quinn knows that the perception is that the Knights will struggle this season.
“I like the fact that people are saying that we won’t be the same team,” Quinn said. “We’ll show people just how tough we are.”…
The St. Peter’s University men’s basketball team traveled to South Orange to face nationally ranked Seton Hall last Tuesday and the Peacocks dropped an 84-61 decision in a game that was never close, especially after the 15th-ranked Pirates raced out to a 10-0 lead, displaying a ferocious and tenacious defense.
Needless to say, Peacocks head coach John Dunne had a lot of praise for his opponents.
“We had Terry Dehere [the former St. Anthony standout who went on to become Seton Hall’s all-time leading scorer and eventually an extended stint in the NBA] in for a practice recently and I said to him that this Seton Hall team is probably the best team since he was there,” Dunne said. “I usually don’t get overly impressed watching other teams, but I’m impressed with these guys. They have all the pieces. They play unselfishly. They’re legit.”
Dunne’s team is now 4-5 overall, but they will compete in the MAAC, even though they’re very young. But from a sportswriter’s standpoint, they have players with names that are nightmares. The Peacocks have Mamadou Ndiaye, Samuel Idowu, Davauhnte Turner and the topper in Nnamdi Enechionyia. That last one, which is like the bottom line of the eye chart at the optometrist’s office, had to be checked five times even after typing it. The Peacocks play home at Yanitelli Center on Dec. 23 against St. Francis of Brooklyn and Dec. 31 in the showdown with perennial MAAC powerhouse Monmouth. The St. Francis game is at 2 p.m. and the New Year’s Eve game is at noon…
Congrats to former St. Peter’s Prep standout and current Alabama great Minkah Fitzpatrick, who recently won both the Jim Thorpe Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award for being named the top defensive back and top overall defensive player in the nation.
Fitzpatrick, who will lead the Crimson Tide to the Sugar Bowl and the national semifinals against Clemson on New Year’s Day, is more than likely going to come out and enter the NFL Draft. One recent prognosticator stated that Fitzpatrick could possibly be selected as the No. 4 pick overall in the upcoming draft. That’s just incredible news for a great kid who always finds his way back to his alma mater to make his presence felt…
Congrats to Union City head football coach Wilber Valdez, who was selected as the North Jersey Super Football Conference-Liberty Division Coach of the Year. Valdez, who was also honored by the New York Jets as their Coach of the Week earlier this season, somehow was not selected as the Coach of the Year here.
Valdez was definitely worthy of receiving the honor here and somehow, even with all his success, has not been named Hudson Reporter Coach of the Year since 2005 when he was coaching at Ferris. That’s a tremendous oversight, but it just shows the level of consistency Valdez has enjoyed at Union City…
In closing, Hudson County lost a truly great man this week when former Hudson Catholic teacher, coach and athletic director Tom Gentile died suddenly of a heart attack, just weeks away from his retirement as an administrator at Sayreville High School.
Gentile was a lot like his name, truly a gentle man who cared so much for all the people _ athletes, students, teachers _ that he had the grace to work with. There isn’t a person alive who could utter a bad word about Tommy. It’s a shame he passed on before he had a chance to settle down and enjoy life. He will be so sorely missed. – Jim Hague.

Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.

You’re gonna make it after all

Marilyn Baer, Staff Writer
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You’re gonna make it after all

Since taking the office of president on Friday, Jan. 20, Donald Trump has signed 12 executive orders, including one that weakens the reach of the Affordable Care Act and one that says federal dollars may not go to organizations that provide abortion services (including some that provide contraception and counseling). Also during his first week, he has said he’d investigate what he believes to be up to 5 million illegal votes in his election and has said he’ll build a wall on the border with Mexico.
Dozens of women and a handful of men from Jersey City, Hoboken, and other local towns took 14 buses from Hudson County to Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Jan. 21 to march for women’s rights and for civil rights for disadvantaged groups. Similar protests were held in New York, Toronto, and London.
Hoisting signs such as “Nasty woman in training,” “These boobs were made for marching,” “My body my choice,” “Women’s rights are human rights,” “Dump Trump,” “Don’t tread on me,” “Men of quality do not fear equality,” and “Keep your tiny hands off my rights,” the women spent six hours in the nation’s capital before heading home.
The protest was said to be the largest in U.S. history.
“I hope today is the beginning of a movement to keep the next four years moving forward and not allow this administration to pull us back,” said Hoboken resident Liz Cohen on one of the buses, as the group rolled down to D.C. Participants had to be at the buses by 4:30 a.m.
Cohen, one of the trip’s organizers, said 206 local people made the trip to D.C. after months of planning. Only six dropped out.
“Some people were ill, others decided to attend the march in New York City instead, and we had one family who decided not to go because of the violence in D.C. the day of the inauguration, which is understandable,” said Cohen.

The march

Eileen Vanderhaden, 74, who has lived in Hoboken for 24 years, was one of the marchers. “I’m no stranger to activism,” she said. “I marched for women’s rights in the ’90s and against the Vietnam and Iraq wars. But this march for some reason, seeing all those women and men with a singular purpose, was so thrilling for me I had a lump in my throat the whole day.”
_____________
“I remember at one point my boss called me in and said, ‘I don’t know why they allow women to be put into important roles.’ ” – Eileen Vanderhaden, 74
____________
Vanderhaden said she has experienced workplace discrimination in the past because of her gender, when she worked in data security.
“I remember at one point my boss called me in and said, ‘I don’t know why they allow women to be put into important roles,’ ” she said. “ ‘All they really want is enough money to buy a good pretty pocketbook. Women do not belong in the workplace. They belong home with their children.’ I was more than happy to testify against him a few years later when he was being sued by a former Hispanic employee.”
Vanderhaden said she was overwhelmed by the love and support of the protestors, even when people who were against the march made their way through the crowd. Those people carried signs against abortion and homosexual rights.
“No one was mean,” she said. “Everyone was kind when those men with the Jesus signs came through. All people did was part and begin chanting, ‘Love trumps hate’.”
Jersey City resident Harriet Taub, 63, said, “There was never a moment from the time I heard about the march that I didn’t want to be a part of it. The tone and tenor of our government is so divisive and mean-spirited that I think it’s important to rally around and be together and say we won’t stand for this.”
Taub said she had marched in D.C for women’s reproductive rights in the 1990s with her then 7-year-old daughter, who was now marching in Toronto with her husband.
She said protesting goes hand in hand with democracy.
“It’s important for anyone and everyone to get together and make a statement and let people know protesting is still a right,” Taub said. “When you take away those rights democracy goes out the window. We have a right to stand together and say, ‘We are watching you and you can’t ignore us.’ I’m hopeful that this march will show the administration and those in political power that we will not accept business as usual, and that they can’t give way to the stroke of a pen and get rid of all the progress this country has made.”
Taub noted, “I have family in Melbourne, Australia, friends marching in Boston, and it’s exciting to see it’s not a localized thing or polarized. Its liberals and conservatives, it’s West Coast and East Coast.”
Thomas Egan, 58, a former Hoboken resident and current Jersey City resident for the past 20 years, felt the march’s positive spirit and enjoyed the creative signs and involvement. He was upset by the election results.
“I felt it would be a historic event if enough people came, and it would become a marker in history,” he said. “Yeah, you could say I was surprised by the election. It was a nightmare. We were looking at the polls thinking it was going to be all right. Then we watched it all fall apart.”
“I went from the despair and depression after the election to absolute joy and a renewal of energy to keep going,” said Cohen after the march. “I remember how horrible I felt. I was literally grieving, thinking the world had come to an end, and now to have been here and think about this today; what a difference. I feel so empowered.”
Hoboken resident Barbara Gambach Weinstein said she thought the march included people from all backgrounds and people with different agendas and some took inspiration from the suffragettes.
“I like the comprehensive nature of the march,” said Weinstein. “This is just the beginning. This is just one part of the strategy. I wore white today because this is what the suffragettes wore to fight and protest before they finally got women the right to vote. They used all the techniques available to them.”
She said, “They marched, they protested, organized, and then went to legislation. This march includes not only women’s rights but movements like Black Lives Matter and women fighting for immigration.”
Jackie Santos, a 26-year-old elementary school teacher from Jersey City, said this was her first march in D.C. She chose to go to D.C. instead of New York. “This is right where all the big decisions are made. Coming here felt more exciting and powerful.”
“There was a lot of positivity and good energy,” she said. “I was a little nervous. Before I came, people were telling me to be careful because it might be dangerous, but it wasn’t at all.”
Santos said she was proud to have been one of the over 1 million people who attended and was comforted by the fact that she wasn’t alone.
The daughter of Hoboken’s late favorite son, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, made it clear on Twitter which side she was on. On Jan. 24 she tweeted “I’ve never been so scared but I will stand up and fight till the end. #Resistance” with an image of an American flag.

Mixed feelings from Republicans

Hudson County Republican Party Chairman Jose Arango did not attend the march, but he said he had neighbors, friends, and employees who did.
“My opinion is, it’s a beautiful thing,” he said. “It’s democracy. I congratulate all the women who marched and expressed their concerns. I give a lot of credit to women who started this movement.”
Arango said he found the timing of the march a little early.
“Donald Trump was sworn in to office on Friday and they were already marching the next day before he even made a decision or took a next step,” said Arango.
Arango also believed Hollywood stars like Madonna should have been more careful in their speeches at the marches, and that some celebrities were “irresponsible.”
“I say you have a constitutional right to express yourself freely without saying you are going to blow up the White House,” said Arango, referring to Madonna’s controversial comments, which were actually: “Yes, I’m angry. Yes, I am outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot of blowing up the White House, but I know that this won’t change anything. We cannot fall into despair.”
He added, “She has a lot of youth followers. I think we should have responsible freedom of expression. They criticize Donald Trump for irresponsible speeches, and he has made some mistakes, I agree, but one wrong doesn’t trump another.”
Arango added that speeches like Madonna’s “gave ammunition to our enemies with the way they talk. If I was an enemy of our country I would put Madonna and all these people on a statue. They would be my idol.”

How it began

Cohen decided to get involved after seeing the results of the election in November.
“I was so upset that day,” said Cohen. “I was in mourning literally. I was fully prepared to celebrate the first female president and then it all fell apart.”
Then she heard of the 1 Million Women March, the original title of the Women’s March, and heard of a local meeting of New Jersey Awakens the following week and called the organizer.
“I called her and said I wanted to try and get a bus to go and she said she’d put me on the agenda, and the rest was history.”
Barbara Gross, one of Cohen’s partner organizers, said organizing a project of this magnitude wasn’t easy. There were constant changes, including last-minute bus parking fees, rally point changes, and the weather.
The group paid for the trip using donations and a $50 fee from each participant.
Local businesses and residents donated sunscreen and hand warmers and sponsored seats on the bus for those who would not be able to afford to go otherwise.

What’s next?

Many of the participants in the march felt invigorated after attending. But what is next for the movement?
Several suggested calling their state and local representatives about issues that are important to them. Emailing and on-line petitions don’t make as much of an impact, officials have said.
Scientists around the country have been organizing a march for later this year after Trump supporters have made comments trying to discredit fears of climate change.
Taub said, “Yes, everyone should call their state representatives, or write to them, but we should also call other states’ representatives and talk to them, or research the various national committees to see who serves on them and contact those people as well.”
Taub also called for more education on the fight for gender equality.
“I feel there is an educational gap between women of my generation and millennials or younger,” said Taub. “What you don’t realize is how hard it was to get here. People of your generation grew up with these freedoms and don’t know what it’s like not to have them.”
Among more recent changes in the U.S., the Affordable Care Act ensures that people have health insurance through age 25. Before that, young people often lost their insurance a year or two after college graduation.
Gross said she collected dozens of signs, pins, letters, and emails about the march and donated them to the Hoboken Historical Museum for its archives.
Cohen said she has started contacting her representatives and plans on doing so every Tuesday as part of Take Action Tuesday. She also has begun to take some online tutorials on how to be an effective activist and get others involved.
The group is also planning to meet with other D.C. trip organizers in the area to discuss the next steps.

Woman targeted

Meanwhile, women in other parts of the country have faced blowback for speaking out.
One woman in Mississippi responded on Facebook to some of her state senator, Chris McDaniels’, remarks about the march such as, “So a group of unhappy liberal women march on Washington D.C. We shouldn’t be surprised; almost all liberal women are unhappy. Perhaps there’s a correlation… If they can afford all those piercings, tattoos, body paintings, signs, and plane tickets, then why do they want us to pay for their birth control?” The woman commented that he should be representing everyone, then called him a “f—wit” and asked her friends to call his office and let their voices be heard. In response, he reportedly posted her image and Facebook information, stating “She obviously believes you should be paying for her birth control. Why not let her know how you feel?” She told a reporter that she was harassed in response.
Marilyn Baer can be reached at marilynb@hudsonreporter.com.

Their boots were made for marching

Marilyn Baer, Staff Writer
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0
Their boots were made for marching

Since taking the office of president on Friday, Jan. 20, Donald Trump has signed 12 executive orders, including one that weakens the reach of the Affordable Care Act and one that says federal dollars may not go to organizations that provide abortion services (including some that provide contraception and counseling). Also during his first week, he has said he’d investigate what he believes to be up to 5 million illegal votes in his election and has said he’ll build a wall on the border with Mexico.
Dozens of women and a handful of men from Hoboken, Jersey City, and other local towns took 14 buses from Hudson County to Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Jan. 21 to march for women’s rights and for civil rights for disadvantaged groups. Similar protests were held in New York, Toronto, and London.
Hoisting signs such as “Nasty woman in training,” “These boobs were made for marching,” “My body my choice,” “Women’s rights are human rights,” “Dump Trump,” “Don’t tread on me,” “Men of quality do not fear equality,” and “Keep your tiny hands off my rights,” the women and men spent six hours in the nation’s capital before heading home.
The protest was said to be the largest in U.S. history.
“I hope today is the beginning of a movement to keep the next four years moving forward and not allow this administration to pull us back,” said Hoboken resident Liz Cohen on one of the buses, as the group rolled down to D.C. Participants had to be at the buses by 4:30 a.m.
Cohen, one of the trip’s organizers, said 206 local people made the trip to D.C. after months of planning. Only six dropped out.
“Some people were ill, others decided to attend the march in New York City instead, and we had one family who decided not to go because of the violence in D.C. the day of the inauguration, which is understandable,” said Cohen.

The march

Eileen Vanderhaden, 74, who has lived in Hoboken for 24 years, was one of the marchers. “I’m no stranger to activism,” she said. “I marched for women’s rights in the ’90s and against the Vietnam and Iraq wars. But this march for some reason, seeing all those women and men with a singular purpose, was so thrilling for me I had a lump in my throat the whole day.”
_____________
“I remember at one point my boss called me in and said, ‘I don’t know why they allow women to be put into important roles.’ ” – Eileen Vanderhaden, 74
____________
Vanderhaden said she has experienced workplace discrimination in the past because of her gender, when she worked in data security.
“I remember at one point my boss called me in and said, ‘I don’t know why they allow women to be put into important roles,’ ” she said. “ ‘All they really want is enough money to buy a good pretty pocketbook. Women do not belong in the workplace. They belong home with their children.’ I was more than happy to testify against him a few years later when he was being sued by a former Hispanic employee.”
Vanderhaden said she was overwhelmed by the love and support of the protestors, even when people who were against the march made their way through the crowd. Those people carried signs against abortion and homosexual rights.
“No one was mean,” she said. “Everyone was kind when those men with the Jesus signs came through. All people did was part and begin chanting, ‘Love trumps hate’.”
Jersey City resident Harriet Taub, 63, said, “There was never a moment from the time I heard about the march that I didn’t want to be a part of it. The tone and tenor of our government is so divisive and mean-spirited that I think it’s important to rally around and be together and say we won’t stand for this.”
Taub said she had marched in D.C for women’s reproductive rights in the 1990s with her then 7-year-old daughter, who was now marching in Toronto with her husband.
She said protesting goes hand in hand with democracy.
“It’s important for anyone and everyone to get together and make a statement and let people know protesting is still a right,” Taub said. “When you take away those rights democracy goes out the window. We have a right to stand together and say, ‘We are watching you and you can’t ignore us.’ I’m hopeful that this march will show the administration and those in political power that we will not accept business as usual, and that they can’t give way to the stroke of a pen and get rid of all the progress this country has made.”
Taub noted, “I have family in Melbourne, Australia, friends marching in Boston, and it’s exciting to see it’s not a localized thing or polarized. Its liberals and conservatives, it’s West Coast and East Coast.”
Thomas Egan, 58, a former Hoboken resident and current Jersey City resident for the past 20 years, felt the march’s positive spirit and enjoyed the creative signs and involvement. He was upset by the election results.
“I felt it would be a historic event if enough people came, and it would become a marker in history,” he said. “Yeah, you could say I was surprised by the election. It was a nightmare. We were looking at the polls thinking it was going to be all right. Then we watched it all fall apart.”
“I went from the despair and depression after the election to absolute joy and a renewal of energy to keep going,” said Cohen after the march. “I remember how horrible I felt. I was literally grieving, thinking the world had come to an end, and now to have been here and think about this today; what a difference. I feel so empowered.”
Hoboken resident Barbara Gambach Weinstein said she thought the march included people from all backgrounds and people with different agendas and some took inspiration from the suffragettes.
“I like the comprehensive nature of the march,” said Weinstein. “This is just the beginning. This is just one part of the strategy. I wore white today because this is what the suffragettes wore to fight and protest before they finally got women the right to vote. They used all the techniques available to them.”
She said, “They marched, they protested, organized, and then went to legislation. This march includes not only women’s rights but movements like Black Lives Matter and women fighting for immigration.”
Jackie Santos, a 26-year-old elementary school teacher from Jersey City, said this was her first march in D.C. She chose to go to D.C. instead of New York. “This is right where all the big decisions are made. Coming here felt more exciting and powerful.”
“There was a lot of positivity and good energy,” she said. “I was a little nervous. Before I came, people were telling me to be careful because it might be dangerous, but it wasn’t at all.”
Santos said she was proud to have been one of the over 1 million people who attended and was comforted by the fact that she wasn’t alone.
The daughter of Hoboken’s late favorite son, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, made it clear on Twitter which side she was on. On Jan. 24 she tweeted “I’ve never been so scared but I will stand up and fight till the end. #Resistance” with an image of an American flag.

Mixed feelings from Republicans

Hudson County Republican Party Chairman Jose Arango did not attend the march, but he said he had neighbors, friends, and employees who did.
“My opinion is, it’s a beautiful thing,” he said. “It’s democracy. I congratulate all the women who marched and expressed their concerns. I give a lot of credit to women who started this movement.”
Arango said he found the timing of the march a little early.
“Donald Trump was sworn in to office on Friday and they were already marching the next day before he even made a decision or took a next step,” said Arango.
Arango also believed Hollywood stars like Madonna should have been more careful in their speeches at the marches, and that some celebrities were “irresponsible.”
“I say you have a constitutional right to express yourself freely without saying you are going to blow up the White House,” said Arango, referring to Madonna’s controversial comments, which were actually: “Yes, I’m angry. Yes, I am outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot of blowing up the White House, but I know that this won’t change anything. We cannot fall into despair.”
He added, “She has a lot of youth followers. I think we should have responsible freedom of expression. They criticize Donald Trump for irresponsible speeches, and he has made some mistakes, I agree, but one wrong doesn’t trump another.”
Arango added that speeches like Madonna’s “gave ammunition to our enemies with the way they talk. If I was an enemy of our country I would put Madonna and all these people on a statue. They would be my idol.”

How it began

Cohen decided to get involved after seeing the results of the election in November.
“I was so upset that day,” said Cohen. “I was in mourning literally. I was fully prepared to celebrate the first female president and then it all fell apart.”
Then she heard of the 1 Million Women March, the original title of the Women’s March, and heard of a local meeting of New Jersey Awakens the following week and called the organizer.
“I called her and said I wanted to try and get a bus to go and she said she’d put me on the agenda, and the rest was history.”
Barbara Gross, one of Cohen’s partner organizers, said organizing a project of this magnitude wasn’t easy. There were constant changes, including last-minute bus parking fees, rally point changes, and the weather.
The group paid for the trip using donations and a $50 fee from each participant.
Local businesses and residents donated sunscreen and hand warmers and sponsored seats on the bus for those who would not be able to afford to go otherwise.

What’s next?

Many of the participants in the march felt invigorated after attending. But what is next for the movement?
Several suggested calling their state and local representatives about issues that are important to them. Emailing and on-line petitions don’t make as much of an impact, officials have said.
Scientists around the country have been organizing a march for later this year after Trump supporters have made comments trying to discredit fears of climate change.
Taub said, “Yes, everyone should call their state representatives, or write to them, but we should also call other states’ representatives and talk to them, or research the various national committees to see who serves on them and contact those people as well.”
Taub also called for more education on the fight for gender equality.
“I feel there is an educational gap between women of my generation and millennials or younger,” said Taub. “What you don’t realize is how hard it was to get here. People of your generation grew up with these freedoms and don’t know what it’s like not to have them.”
Among more recent changes in the U.S., the Affordable Care Act ensures that people have health insurance through age 25. Before that, young people often lost their insurance a year or two after college graduation.
Gross said she collected dozens of signs, pins, letters, and emails about the march and donated them to the Hoboken Historical Museum for its archives.
Cohen said she has started contacting her representatives and plans on doing so every Tuesday as part of Take Action Tuesday. She also has begun to take some online tutorials on how to be an effective activist and get others involved.
The group is also planning to meet with other D.C. trip organizers in the area to discuss the next steps.

Woman targeted

Meanwhile, women in other parts of the country have faced blowback for speaking out.
One woman in Mississippi responded on Facebook to some of her state senator, Chris McDaniels’, remarks about the march such as, “So a group of unhappy liberal women march on Washington D.C. We shouldn’t be surprised; almost all liberal women are unhappy. Perhaps there’s a correlation… If they can afford all those piercings, tattoos, body paintings, signs, and plane tickets, then why do they want us to pay for their birth control?” The woman commented that he should be representing everyone, then called him a “f—wit” and asked her friends to call his office and let their voices be heard. In response, he reportedly posted her image and Facebook information, stating “She obviously believes you should be paying for her birth control. Why not let her know how you feel?” She told a reporter that she was harassed in response.

Marilyn Baer can be reached at marilynb@hudsonreporter.com.

JERSEY CITY BRIEFS

Submitted Content
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JERSEY CITY BRIEFS

Prieto to become Sports Authority president

Assemblyman Vincent Prieto, who was replaced as Assembly Speaker earlier this year, will resign his Assembly seat to become president and CEO of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, the state agency that oversees the Meadowlands.
Recommended for the post by Gov. Phil Murphy, Prieto will assume his new duties at the NJSEA on Feb. 25, and will receive an annual salary of $225,000.
Prieto under law must step down from his assembly seat in the 32nd district that includes all of Secaucus, North Bergen and other towns outside Hudson County. It has not yet been determined who will be named to replace him in the interim, before a special election can be held later this year.

Yacht owners charged for insurance fraud

Following a four-month investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Kerwin Rigaud, 46, of Jersey City, was charged on Feb. 8 with insurance fraud. Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said the Insurance Fraud Unit had looked into allegations against Rigaud.
The allegations include fabricating claims and exaggerating damages from 2014 to the present in schemes to defraud multiple insurance companies of more than $200,000.
Rigaud, an accountant, has been charged with multiple insurance fraud violations related to his yacht, “Miss Behaving,” which he berths at Liberty Harbor Marina in Jersey City.

A celebration of spring

For the second year in the row, Barrow Mansion will host a celebration of spring known as Holi on March 3 and 4.
Holi is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has even become popular with non-Hindus throughout the world. The date varies from year to year, coming sometimes in March or even as early as February. The festival always celebrates the coming of spring.
The event will honor and include members of Jersey City’s South Asian community.
Traditional Mithilia and Madhubani art will be central to the exhibit.
This year’s event will strive to be more diverse and inclusive with varied artists also inspired by the theme of the Holi which is the spiritual and cultural celebration of renewal, resurrection, the triumph of the light over darkness with the coming of spring. The Holi is celebrated with joyful colors perfect for an exhibit of art, music and dance.”
So the show will also include a performance of dance and music by the renowned Tabla musician Anirban Roy Chowdhury on March 3 and a performance of dance and music by the Shenaaz Dance Academy on March 4.
The Holi, organizers point out, originated throughout South and East Asia as a festival signifying the victory of good over evil and the coming of spring. It is now celebrated worldwide.
The event will feature a group art show including artists, Shilpa Gowda, Bithika Adhikary, Nainee Shah, Cecilia Martinez, Maria Lupianez, Mahalaxmi Karn and more.
This year’s exhibit will be held on March 3, 12 noon to 10 p.m. and March 4, 12 noon to 8 p. m.

NJ Transit approves proposed alignment for light rail expansion into Bergen County

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail’s (HBLR) expansion into Bergen County received a major boost this week, as NJ Transit has just approved the plan’s proposed alignment, per a press release.
The approval for the project’s Locally Preferred Alternative, detailed in its 2017 Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact statement, is mandatory in the federal environmental review process.
The route is a 10-mile, seven station extension from HBLR’s current Tonnelle Avenue terminus in North Bergen. It would include an additional North Bergen stop at 91st Street, and others in Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia, all the way to the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.
NJ Transit’s Board of Directors also authorized the route’s submission to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board of Trustees for designation and inclusion in their Long-Range Regional Transportation Plan.
By choosing this route, NJ Transit will be able to begin design and engineering activities once they complete the Final Environmental Impact Statement, and the Federal Transit Administration grants a Record of Decision for the project.

Get free income tax preparation help

United Way of Hudson County is teaming with the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program and HOPES to prepare and file federal and state income taxes for locals. The service runs through April 13.
To be eligible, participants must have been New Jersey residents for all of last year. They must also have a Social Security number, work in New Jersey or New York (or have taxable income like pensions, IRA distributions, interest, or stock trades.), and not have an income from a rental property or a business with employees, inventory, a loss, or over $25,000 in total expenses.
The AARP Foundation will be offering walk-in filings Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Foundation is located at 855 Bergen Ave. in Jersey City
HOPES will be offering filings Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., by appointment only.
HOPES has locations in the Hoboken area, including 532 Jackson St., Unit 1B and 300 Bloomfield St.
Call (201) 468-8805 for more assistance and information.

PA approves $364M Holland Tunnel upgrade

The Port Authority Board of New York and New Jersey approved a major rehabilitation and resiliency project for the Holland Tunnel to repair and restore critical mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems caused by Superstorm Sandy, and to install protective measures to mitigate future flooding in the facility.
The $364.2 million project includes repairs and replacement of systems damaged by latent salt resulting from the Oct. 29, 2012 storm, which filled the tunnel with 30 million gallons of water and resulted in flooding up to 9 feet above the North Tube roadway.
As part of the project, repair and replacement will be done to the tunnel’s power cables, fire detection system, voice communication system, lighting, pump room equipment, and repairs to concrete, drum rings, curbs, ceilings and wall tiles. The project includes improved lighting to enhance driver visibility in the tunnel. Approximately 84 percent of the project cost is projected to be reimbursed by federal funds.
In addition to repairs to tunnel systems, the project also includes resiliency measures to increase the stop log height at the doorways of the ventilation buildings in New York and New Jersey to meet current FEMA design flood elevation standards.
Work on the project is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2019 and take approximately five years to complete. The work must be staged during limited overnight hours to minimize disruption to travelers. Full single-tube closings are expected for 48 months. It is anticipated that one tube will be closed at a time, with traffic diverted to the Lincoln Tunnel during the closure.

Trump administration deals ‘serious jeopardy’ to Gateway Tunnel project

Federal transportation officials have assigned the Gateway rail tunnel and other components of the massive infrastructure project a new rating that further jeopardizes the chances of winning grant money from Washington.
A story on Politico.com says the Federal Transit Administration sent an annual funding report to Congress on Monday for its Capital Investment Grants Program that assigned a “Medium-Low“ rating to the proposed $13 billion Hudson River tunnel, the second-lowest on a five-point scale. It was the first time the grant application had received a formal rating. The FTA also reduced the rating of the Portal Bridge North project from “Medium-High“ to “Medium-Low.” That bridge replacement that would fix one of the single-greatest bottlenecks on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor line.
Those involved in the Gateway Program said the change was likely to put chances of receiving federal funding under the New Starts program in serious jeopardy.
The Trump administration rejected an Obama-era agreement to cover half the cost of the broader $30 billion Gateway Program, which calls for constructing two new tubes connecting New Jersey to midtown Manhattan and repairing the existing tunnel that is now falling apart. The White House has also proposed ending the New Starts program, but Congress has so far protected the funding source.
“In case it wasn’t clear before, President Trump today tried to land another death blow to Gateway by having his Federal Transit Administration (FTA) vindictively and inexplicably downgrade the project in order to cut off critical federal funding,” Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said in a statement on Monday.
In the case of the Portal Bridge project, which previously received a rating in February 2017 and was estimated to cost $1.6 billion, the FTA is taking the position that the amount of committed or budgeted funding from other sources had fallen from 57 percent to 21 percent of the total cost. The FTA said that is a primary reason the rating was reduced. The new ratings were issued in November and, according to a person familiar with the Gateway application, did not factor in any information received in October, when new details had become available.
John D. Porcari, the interim executive director of Gateway Program Development Corp., said the ratings fail to take into account the commitments from New York and New Jersey. The states have agreed to split half the cost of the tunnel project, putting up $5.5 billion, though they’ll need federal loans in order to do so. The grant application asks the federal government to cover the remaining costs.
Porcari said the Portal Bridge application, in which local agencies would also cover about half the total cost, “has only been improved with each updated submittal” since the first rating was issued. He noted early construction work has been underway for several months.

JERSEY CITY BRIEFS

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
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JERSEY CITY BRIEFS

Options for affordable housing unveiled

Mayor Steven M. Fulop, along with the Jersey City Housing Authority and The Michael’s Organization, announced the official opening of Mill Creek Gardens, a 126-mixed income low-rise apartment building in Jersey City. Of the 126 units, Mill Creek Gardens will offer 121 new, modern affordable housing units to working families on the site of the former Montgomery Gardens Public Housing Apartment Complex.

“Preserving and increasing the amount of safe and affordable housing throughout the City is a major priority as our community continues to grow,” said Mayor Fulop. “We started on this site with the opening of the Catherine Todd Senior Living Center in 2017, offering nearly 70 affordable apartments for low income and homeless seniors. This next phase is a big step towards providing more working families with an affordable and safe place to call home.”

The new family community encompasses a low-rise walk up consisting of 126 two-to four-bedroom units.  Established in 1953, the prior Montgomery Gardens site was comprised of six high-rise elevator buildings consisting of 440 residential family designated units. Demolition for this phase occurred in 2016.

Within the development three streets are being named in commemoration of three distinguished Jersey City residents: Dr. Johnathan C. Gibbs, Jr., Professor Jean Anyon, and Ms. Mary Ward. Dr. Gibbs was a Jersey City practicing surgeon and physician and Founder of the Gibbs Memorial Health Center. Professor Anyon was a scholar of education policy at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York who studied inner-city school systems. Ms. Ward was a social visionary who helped found the first African-American Catholic church in Jersey City, Christ the King on Ocean Avenue.

The Mill Creek project is funded in part by $2.5 million from the Jersey City Housing Authority and another $2 million from the Jersey City Affordable Housing Trust Funds.

City cracks down on neglected vacant properties

In a resolution passed on March 27, the City Council authorized filing of liens against 28 properties that have failed to be maintained by property owners despite multiple warnings. These properties, proactively cleaned by the city, have been identified as potential safety and health hazards to the community.

“Property owners are going to be held responsible and accountable when they fail to maintain their lots,” said Mayor Steven Fulop. “This is a fair approach not only for the property owners, but also to the residents, as the city is spending money to clean these vacant and neglected lots. This is ultimately a safety issue, and we’ll continue to clean lots after property owners fail to invest in the quality of our neighborhoods.”

According to the vacant property ordinances, the city will first issue a notice. If a property owner fails to clear the lot of brush, litter, and other debris, the city cleans it and charges the cost to the owner.

There are currently over 400 lots identified as vacant on the City’s Vacant Lot Registry under the Housing Preservation Office. Out of those hundreds, the 28 lots identified in the resolution are being singled out for being repeat offenders after they have continuously violated the city’s ordinance despite multiple warnings. Due to the hazardous conditions of these lots, the Department of Public Works was sent to each of these locations to clean up.

“After failing to comply, these 28 properties were cleaned by the Department of Public Works and a bill was sent to the owner,” said Mayor Fulop.  “By holding them accountable, the hope is that in the future the property owners will do the work they’re supposed to do in the first place.”

JC to conduct transit study

With the elimination of New Jersey Transit No. 4 bus serving portions of the Greenville section of Jersey City, Mayor Steven Fulop said the city will move ahead with a feasibility study to bring a Bus Rapid Transit system to Jersey City.

Residents appeared before the city council on March 27 to claim transit service has gotten worse, and shopping areas have become inaccessible due to cut backs in NJ Transit bus service.

A resolution passed by the City Council enables the city to hire a third party vendor to work with the city’s Division of Engineering, Traffic and Transportation and Division of City Planning to conduct the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Feasibility Study.  The BRT study will explore innovative mobility options that offer fast, frequent and reliable transit service to the community. A Bus Rapid Transit system is a high quality, cost-effective transit system that would offer continuous north-south bus service on city streets.

Jersey City would be among the first in the state to implement the BRT system.  The service would allow transit vehicles to operate in dedicated lanes in the roadway, collect fares electronically, provide real-time travel information for riders, improve coordination with other transit modes, as well as offer other features intended to provide a better travel experience for transit customers.

The main objective of the study is to explore options for a complete and continuous north-south Bus Rapid Transit route to improve connectivity between the city’s transit deficient neighborhoods and job centers, encourage public transportation use, reduce traffic congestion, improve public health and quality of life, and maximize investment in existing infrastructure. The system would feature dedicated bus lanes, off-board fare collection, and fast, flexible, and frequent operation.

The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 and will examine previously completed work related to BRT in the North Jersey Region, and existing transportation infrastructure challenges and limitations. The recommendations from the study will provide preferred route alignments, roadway and station designs, and strategies to implement a BRT system on city streets in order to improve the quality and performance of transit for the community.

Menendez, Booker reintroduce bill to hold WWOR-TV accountable

U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker have reintroduced an expanded version of a bill that would make it easier for the public to participate in the renewal process for broadcasters in the state.

This would apply to Secaucus-based WWOR-TV, which had its license renewed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last year, despite the station shutting down its entire New Jersey news operation in 2013, and failing to provide meaningful local news coverage ever since.

“As long as WWOR continues to fail to live up to its obligations we will continue to hold them accountable to New Jerseyans,” said Sen. Menendez. “This legislation will prevent local TV stations, like WWOR, from ignoring their obligations and will strengthen the role of the communities they serve by giving local leaders and the public an active role in their programming and license renewal process.”

In accordance with a 1982 federal law, the FCC stipulated that any license holder for WWOR-TV “devote itself to meeting the special needs of its new community (and the needs of the Northern New Jersey area in general).” The FOX-owned television station shut down its entire New Jersey-based news operation in 2013, forcing layoffs while absorbing some staff at the company’s FOX 5 affiliate, WNYW-TV, in New York City.

WWOR-TV subsequently replaced its local newscast with “Chasing New Jersey”— now called “Chasing News”— a half-hour, TMZ-style program produced by an outside company. WWOR-TV now provides just three hours of weekly news programming compared to an average of 56 hours by comparable broadcast stations in the overlapping New York City and Philadelphia media markets.

The legislation would also require the FCC to issue rules to make it easier for the public to participate in the license renewal process.

Sires praises legislation on lower health care costs

Rep. Albio Sires praised House Democrats for the introduction of the Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act.
“I am proud to cosponsor this important legislation,” Sires said. “For years, Republicans have launched a relentless assault on the health care of millions of Americans by attempting to chip away at the Affordable Care Act. This assault was amplified last night by the administration’s decision to ask a federal court to repeal the entire ACA in Texas v. United States. The bill introduced today will work to bolster our health care system and lower health care costs so that our constituents can worry less about affording health insurance coverage.”
The Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions and Making Health Care More Affordable Act will expand tax credits to lower health insurance premiums, strengthen protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions, and stop the sale of junk health insurance plans. Furthermore, this bill will restore funding for navigators that assist with outreach and enrollment assistance, to ensure that consumers have the help they need to navigate the health insurance system.

HCCC showcases art by Miguel Cardenas

The Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Department of Cultural Affairs invites the community to view Miguel Cardenas’ work in the latest “Teacher as Artist” exhibition, displayed from Monday, April 15 through Sunday, June 30, in the HCCC Gabert Library Building at 71 Sip Ave., Jersey City, and the HCCC North Hudson Campus Library, 4800 Kennedy Boulevard in Union City.

An artist’s reception for Cardenas is slated for Thursday, April 18, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the College’s Dineen Hull Gallery Atrium, located on the top floor of the Gabert Library Building at 71 Sip Ave.in Jersey City.
There is no charge for admission to the exhibition or the reception.

Pop artist, architect, and educator Miguel Cardenas creates digital collages that blur the line between art and design by creating a narrative of associations.

Born in Jersey City, Cardenas previously worked as an architect. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Pratt Institute and Master of Advanced Architectural Design and Theory degree from Columbia University.

Today, Cardenas works full-time with autistic students at Dickinson High School’s Special Education Department, and practices as a freelance architectural designer.

Cardenas has been active in the Hudson County arts culture for many years. His architectonic spatial concepts are applied by overlaying and juxtaposing images and text from art history, social history, and pop culture.

In his craft, Cardenas attempts to inhabit the ambiguity found in the grey zone that exists between binary oppositions,  where things are not “either/or” but “both/and.”

Curated by HCCC Cultural Affairs Director Michelle Vitale, the “Teacher as Artist” solo exhibitions celebrate the creativity of Hudson County educators who are also local artists.

The HCCC Department of Cultural Affairs’ calendar features an array of visual and performing artists, exhibitions, and programs. HCCC Cultural Affairs welcomes Hudson County community members, organizations, businesses, and school groups to enjoy the cultural programs at the college.
Groups of 6 to 30 visitors are invited to schedule free, 45-minute tours of the current exhibition.

The HCCC Gabert Library is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The HCCC North Hudson Campus Library is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

More information is available at www.hccc.edu/cultural-affairs.

Library hosts events in April 

Books on the Move is back. This year’s book is “Mambo King” by Tito Puente, part of a bilingual program for kids. The book is about Puente’s journey from Spanish Harlem to the Grammy Awards. Along the way, participants will role play parts of the book, make their own crafts, and learn dance steps and drum rhythms of the Mambo and Cha-Cha. The first 25 families at each location who RSVP and attend will receive a free copy of the book. (Sat., Apr. 6, 2 p.m. at Five Corners; Sat., Apr. 13, 2 p.m. at Heights; also coming to Bonetti and Miller in May.)

Those who are looking for assistance with signing up for healthcare coverage need look no further. Miller’s Healthcare Enrollment Assistance Workshops continue this month, presented in conjunction with the Urban League of Hudson County (Thurs., Apr. 25, 4 p.m.)

Learn all about your credit report and how to manage it at Cunningham’s special program, Understanding Your Credit Report. (Wed., Apr. 10, 6 p.m.)

The Heights branch is celebrating National Poetry Month with the annual Poem in Your Pocket event! Come by and share your poems with your friends! (Wed., Apr. 17, 3:30 p.m.)

National Scrabble Day falls in April. There will be a special celebration of all things Scrabble at Pavonia. (Mon., Apr. 8, 5:30 p.m.)

 

 

WEEHAWKEN BRIEFS

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WEEHAWKEN BRIEFS

18th Annual Taste of Weehawken is April 24

The 18th annual Taste of Weehawken fundraiser for the Weehawken Library will take place this year on Tuesday, April 24. Beyond a selection of food from a variety of high profile area restaurants, the Taste also offers a selection of wines, craft beers and after-dinner cocktails, all hosted by long-time Taste sponsor Giannone Wine & Liquor Company.
“The food, the wine, the door prizes, including dining certificates from many of the participating restaurants, make it an amazing night for a great cause,” said Leona M. Nersesian, president of the Library Board of Trustees.
Throughout the years, money raised at the Taste has been used to enhance many library programs. This year funds will be directed towards continuing programming as well as upgrading the children’s department.
“Everywhere I go in town, people rave about our library,” said Mayor Richard F. Turner. “The Taste is the perfect opportunity for everyone to come out to show their support for this wonderful institution while helping the library continue its diverse programs and activities for patrons of all ages.”
Tickets for the Taste are $60, which includes the Preview Hour (6:30 to 9:30 p.m.) or $40 for General Admission (7:30 to 9:30 p.m.) and will be available for purchase at the end of March. Be sure to “Like” Taste of Weehawken on Facebook, and follow Weehawken NJ on Twitter @weehawkennj for news and updates.

Union City residents killed in Tonnelle car crash

A stretch of Tonnelle Avenue known for accidents saw the death of two Union City residents on Sunday, Feb. 11. The northbound lanes between Manhattan Avenue and North Street were closed for hours as authorities investigated the wreck.
According to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the two fatalities were Mario Guevara, 25, and Heather Acosta, 24, both from Union City. They were pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the crash.
The crash occurred at about 3 a.m. The Hudson County Regional Fatal Collision Unit, which was established earlier this year, responded to the scene.
One car flipped over and the other jumped the curb, hitting a telephone pole and destroying the gate of a nearby building.
This came two days after Mayor Steven Fulop announced the city’s adopting of a “Vision Zero” policy in an effort to eliminate deaths and serious injuries.
Fulop issued an executive order that allowed Jersey City to join with more than 30 municipalities seeking to establish traffic safety strategies. The crash occurred in the same section of Tonnelle Avenue where a police chase last June resulted in a vehicle bursting into flames.

NJ Transit approves proposed alignment for light rail into Bergen County

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail’s (HBLR) expansion into Bergen County received a major boost last week, as NJ Transit has just approved the plan’s proposed alignment, per a press release.
The approval for the project’s Locally Preferred Alternative, detailed in its 2017 Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact statement, is mandatory in the federal environmental review process.
The route is a 10-mile, seven station extension from HBLR’s current Tonnelle Avenue terminus in North Bergen. It would include an additional North Bergen stop at 91st Street, and others in Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia, all the way to the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.
NJ Transit’s Board of Directors also authorized the route’s submission to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board of Trustees for designation and inclusion in their Long-Range Regional Transportation Plan.
By choosing this route, NJ Transit will be able to begin design and engineering activities once they complete the Final Environmental Impact Statement, and the Federal Transit Administration grants a Record of Decision for the project.

Get free income tax preparation help

United Way of Hudson County is teaming with the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program and HOPES to prepare and file federal and state income taxes for locals. The service runs through April 13.
To be eligible, participants must have been New Jersey residents for all of last year. They must also have a Social Security number, work in New Jersey or New York (or have taxable income like pensions, IRA distributions, interest, or stock trades.), and not have an income from a rental property or a business with employees, inventory, a loss, or over $25,000 in total expenses.
The AARP Foundation will be offering walk-in filings Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Foundation is located at 855 Bergen Ave. in Jersey City
HOPES will be offering filings Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., by appointment only.
HOPES has locations in the Hoboken area, including 532 Jackson St., Unit 1B and 300 Bloomfield St.
Call (201) 468-8805 for more assistance and information.

North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue swears in 37 firefighters

On Feb. 13, the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue made history by swearing-in 37 new firefighters, its largest hiring class ever, including Lisa Napier, the first female firefighter in the 20-year history of NHRFR. All 37 new firefighters are U.S. military veterans, showing the regional fire department’s commitment to support veterans.
“Each of the 37 men and women joining our ranks have served this country, and will continue to protect their communities as members of the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue,” said NHRFR Chief Frank Montagne. “They are all extremely qualified, and I am confident they will make excellent firefighters.”
“Today we are proud to welcome 37 brave men and women to the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue, and wish them luck as they begin their important work protecting the community,” said Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner. “I would like to thank Senator Menendez, Senator Booker, and Congressman Sires for helping secure a Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) federal grant which will fully pay the salaries of 35 of these new firefighters. Federal funding this year also enabled the purchase of state-of-the-art cameras which detect body heat and can save precious time when fire crews are in dangerous situations.”

Food and Shelter Coalition Meeting set for March 13

All interested person are invited to attend a Tuesday, March 13 meeting of the Food and Shelter Coalition to discuss food and shelter concerns and share ideas. The meeting is an opportunity to advocate to state and federal lawmakers to promote responsible public policies to improve quality and access to food for thousands of people. The National Law Center on Homeless and Poverty currently estimates that each year at least 2.5 to 3.5 million Americans sleep in shelters, transitional housing, and public places not meant for human habitation. At least 7.4 million have lost their own homes and are doubled-up with others due to economic necessity.
The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. at Old Bergen Church, 1 Highland Ave., Jersey City (take the elevator and press 1).
For more information contact chairperson La-Trenda Ross at (201) 618-5745 or (201) 420-3000 ext. 2543, or email ltross@xbp.dhs.state.nj.us.

Upcoming schedule for parenting classes at Palisades Medical Center

Palisades Medical Center has announced its upcoming schedule for parenting classes for new moms, and moms to be.
The hospital will hold its Childbirth Education Series two day courses on March 17 and 24, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Additional courses will follow, at the same times, on May 5 and 12, then June 9 and 16. Cost is $125 per couple if delivering at Palisades Medical Center; $150 if delivering elsewhere.
The class covers topics such as understanding the labor process, breathing and relaxation techniques to work with your body, the role of the support person.
Newborn Baby Care classes will run on Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; March 27, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; May 19, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and June 12, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. These classes cover basics of newborn care, starting with the appearance and characteristics of a newborn. Cost is $35 per couple if delivering at Palisades Medical Center; $50 if delivering elsewhere.
Key to Successful Breastfeeding classes will run on Feb. 27, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; April 7, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; May 8, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and June 23, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Topics include the importance of skin-to-skin contact, latching techniques, supply and demand as it relates to breastfeeding, positioning for breastfeeding, indications for breast pumps.
Dads are encouraged to attend. Cost is $35 per couple if delivering at Palisades Medical Center; $50 if delivering elsewhere.
There will also be Sibling Preparation for Birth Classes, $25 per family. Contact Robin Petrick for more info on this class at (201) 295-4823. For more information in general, please call (201) 854-5000 or visit palisadesmedical.org.

Trump administration deals ‘serious jeopardy’ to Gateway Tunnel project

Federal transportation officials have assigned the Gateway rail tunnel and other components of the massive infrastructure project a new rating that further jeopardizes the chances of winning grant money from Washington.
A story on Politico.com says the Federal Transit Administration sent an annual funding report to Congress on Monday for its Capital Investment Grants Program that assigned a “Medium-Low“ rating to the proposed $13 billion Hudson River tunnel, the second-lowest on a five-point scale. It was the first time the grant application had received a formal rating. The FTA also reduced the rating of the Portal Bridge North project from “Medium-High“ to “Medium-Low.” That bridge replacement that would fix one of the single-greatest bottlenecks on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor line.
Those involved in the Gateway Program said the change was likely to put chances of receiving federal funding under the New Starts program in serious jeopardy.
The Trump administration rejected an Obama-era agreement to cover half the cost of the broader $30 billion Gateway Program, which calls for constructing two new tubes connecting New Jersey to midtown Manhattan and repairing the existing tunnel that is now falling apart. The White House has also proposed ending the New Starts program, but Congress has so far protected the funding source.
“In case it wasn’t clear before, President Trump today tried to land another death blow to Gateway by having his Federal Transit Administration (FTA) vindictively and inexplicably downgrade the project in order to cut off critical federal funding,” Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said in a statement on Monday.
In the case of the Portal Bridge project, which previously received a rating in February 2017 and was estimated to cost $1.6 billion, the FTA is taking the position that the amount of committed or budgeted funding from other sources had fallen from 57 percent to 21 percent of the total cost. The FTA said that is a primary reason the rating was reduced. The new ratings were issued in November and, according to a person familiar with the Gateway application, did not factor in any information received in October, when new details had become available.
John D. Porcari, the interim executive director of Gateway Program Development Corp., said the ratings fail to take into account the commitments from New York and New Jersey. The states have agreed to split half the cost of the tunnel project, putting up $5.5 billion, though they’ll need federal loans in order to do so. The grant application asks the federal government to cover the remaining costs.
Porcari said the Portal Bridge application, in which local agencies would also cover about half the total cost, “has only been improved with each updated submittal” since the first rating was issued. He noted early construction work has been underway for several months.
“We are surprised and disappointed by the sudden downgrade based on what appears to be changing evaluation criteria,” Porcari said. “We continue to work closely with USDOT to strengthen our funding applications and remain confident that the merits of the projects warrant significant federal investment.”

JERSEY CITY BRIEFS

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JERSEY CITY BRIEFS

Prieto to become Sports Authority president

Assemblyman Vincent Prieto, who was replaced as Assembly Speaker earlier this year, will resign his Assembly seat to become president and CEO of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, the state agency that oversees the Meadowlands.
Recommended for the post by Gov. Phil Murphy, Prieto will assume his new duties at the NJSEA on Feb. 25, and will receive an annual salary of $225,000.
Prieto under law must step down from his assembly seat in the 32nd district that includes all of Secaucus, North Bergen and other towns outside Hudson County. It has not yet been determined who will be named to replace him in the interim, before a special election can be held later this year.

Yacht owners charged for insurance fraud

Following a four-month investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Kerwin Rigaud, 46, of Jersey City, was charged on Feb. 8 with insurance fraud. Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said the Insurance Fraud Unit had looked into allegations against Rigaud.
The allegations include fabricating claims and exaggerating damages from 2014 to the present in schemes to defraud multiple insurance companies of more than $200,000.
Rigaud, an accountant, has been charged with multiple insurance fraud violations related to his yacht, “Miss Behaving,” which he berths at Liberty Harbor Marina in Jersey City.

A celebration of spring

For the second year in the row, Barrow Mansion will host a celebration of spring known as Holi on March 3 and 4.
Holi is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has even become popular with non-Hindus throughout the world. The date varies from year to year, coming sometimes in March or even as early as February. The festival always celebrates the coming of spring.
The event will honor and include members of Jersey City’s South Asian community.
Traditional Mithilia and Madhubani art will be central to the exhibit.
This year’s event will strive to be more diverse and inclusive with varied artists also inspired by the theme of the Holi which is the spiritual and cultural celebration of renewal, resurrection, the triumph of the light over darkness with the coming of spring. The Holi is celebrated with joyful colors perfect for an exhibit of art, music and dance.”
So the show will also include a performance of dance and music by the renowned Tabla musician Anirban Roy Chowdhury on March 3 and a performance of dance and music by the Shenaaz Dance Academy on March 4.
The Holi, organizers point out, originated throughout South and East Asia as a festival signifying the victory of good over evil and the coming of spring. It is now celebrated worldwide.
The event will feature a group art show including artists, Shilpa Gowda, Bithika Adhikary, Nainee Shah, Cecilia Martinez, Maria Lupianez, Mahalaxmi Karn and more.
This year’s exhibit will be held on March 3, 12 noon to 10 p.m. and March 4, 12 noon to 8 p. m.

NJ Transit approves proposed alignment for light rail expansion into Bergen County

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail’s (HBLR) expansion into Bergen County received a major boost this week, as NJ Transit has just approved the plan’s proposed alignment, per a press release.
The approval for the project’s Locally Preferred Alternative, detailed in its 2017 Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact statement, is mandatory in the federal environmental review process.
The route is a 10-mile, seven station extension from HBLR’s current Tonnelle Avenue terminus in North Bergen. It would include an additional North Bergen stop at 91st Street, and others in Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia, all the way to the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.
NJ Transit’s Board of Directors also authorized the route’s submission to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board of Trustees for designation and inclusion in their Long-Range Regional Transportation Plan.
By choosing this route, NJ Transit will be able to begin design and engineering activities once they complete the Final Environmental Impact Statement, and the Federal Transit Administration grants a Record of Decision for the project.

Get free income tax preparation help

United Way of Hudson County is teaming with the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program and HOPES to prepare and file federal and state income taxes for locals. The service runs through April 13.
To be eligible, participants must have been New Jersey residents for all of last year. They must also have a Social Security number, work in New Jersey or New York (or have taxable income like pensions, IRA distributions, interest, or stock trades.), and not have an income from a rental property or a business with employees, inventory, a loss, or over $25,000 in total expenses.
The AARP Foundation will be offering walk-in filings Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Foundation is located at 855 Bergen Ave. in Jersey City
HOPES will be offering filings Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., by appointment only.
HOPES has locations in the Hoboken area, including 532 Jackson St., Unit 1B and 300 Bloomfield St.
Call (201) 468-8805 for more assistance and information.

PA approves $364M Holland Tunnel upgrade

The Port Authority Board of New York and New Jersey approved a major rehabilitation and resiliency project for the Holland Tunnel to repair and restore critical mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems caused by Superstorm Sandy, and to install protective measures to mitigate future flooding in the facility.
The $364.2 million project includes repairs and replacement of systems damaged by latent salt resulting from the Oct. 29, 2012 storm, which filled the tunnel with 30 million gallons of water and resulted in flooding up to 9 feet above the North Tube roadway.
As part of the project, repair and replacement will be done to the tunnel’s power cables, fire detection system, voice communication system, lighting, pump room equipment, and repairs to concrete, drum rings, curbs, ceilings and wall tiles. The project includes improved lighting to enhance driver visibility in the tunnel. Approximately 84 percent of the project cost is projected to be reimbursed by federal funds.
In addition to repairs to tunnel systems, the project also includes resiliency measures to increase the stop log height at the doorways of the ventilation buildings in New York and New Jersey to meet current FEMA design flood elevation standards.
Work on the project is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2019 and take approximately five years to complete. The work must be staged during limited overnight hours to minimize disruption to travelers. Full single-tube closings are expected for 48 months. It is anticipated that one tube will be closed at a time, with traffic diverted to the Lincoln Tunnel during the closure.

Trump administration deals ‘serious jeopardy’ to Gateway Tunnel project

Federal transportation officials have assigned the Gateway rail tunnel and other components of the massive infrastructure project a new rating that further jeopardizes the chances of winning grant money from Washington.
A story on Politico.com says the Federal Transit Administration sent an annual funding report to Congress on Monday for its Capital Investment Grants Program that assigned a “Medium-Low“ rating to the proposed $13 billion Hudson River tunnel, the second-lowest on a five-point scale. It was the first time the grant application had received a formal rating. The FTA also reduced the rating of the Portal Bridge North project from “Medium-High“ to “Medium-Low.” That bridge replacement that would fix one of the single-greatest bottlenecks on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor line.
Those involved in the Gateway Program said the change was likely to put chances of receiving federal funding under the New Starts program in serious jeopardy.
The Trump administration rejected an Obama-era agreement to cover half the cost of the broader $30 billion Gateway Program, which calls for constructing two new tubes connecting New Jersey to midtown Manhattan and repairing the existing tunnel that is now falling apart. The White House has also proposed ending the New Starts program, but Congress has so far protected the funding source.
“In case it wasn’t clear before, President Trump today tried to land another death blow to Gateway by having his Federal Transit Administration (FTA) vindictively and inexplicably downgrade the project in order to cut off critical federal funding,” Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said in a statement on Monday.
In the case of the Portal Bridge project, which previously received a rating in February 2017 and was estimated to cost $1.6 billion, the FTA is taking the position that the amount of committed or budgeted funding from other sources had fallen from 57 percent to 21 percent of the total cost. The FTA said that is a primary reason the rating was reduced. The new ratings were issued in November and, according to a person familiar with the Gateway application, did not factor in any information received in October, when new details had become available.
John D. Porcari, the interim executive director of Gateway Program Development Corp., said the ratings fail to take into account the commitments from New York and New Jersey. The states have agreed to split half the cost of the tunnel project, putting up $5.5 billion, though they’ll need federal loans in order to do so. The grant application asks the federal government to cover the remaining costs.
Porcari said the Portal Bridge application, in which local agencies would also cover about half the total cost, “has only been improved with each updated submittal” since the first rating was issued. He noted early construction work has been underway for several months.

TASTY TIDBITS Marist girls look to enjoy similar success

Jim Hague, Sports Columnist
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TASTY TIDBITS Marist girls look to enjoy similar success

The Marist High School girls’ basketball team was perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2016-17 season in all of New Jersey basketball.
The Lady Knights posted a 24-2 record, advancing undefeated to the Hudson County Tournament finals where they lost to Secaucus. The Lady Knights then defeated Hudson County foes St. Dominic Academy and Hudson Catholic in the NJSIAA Non-Public B state tournament before falling to Saddle River Day in the sectional semifinals.
Needless to say, it was a great year for coach Reggie Quinn and the Knights.
Now, a year later, there are no surprises. Despite losing Hudson Reporter All-Area First Team honoree Emely Rosario to graduation (Eastern Kentucky University), the Knights are loaded for bear this time around, willing to take on any and all comers.
“I think last year was huge, putting our program back on the map,” Quinn said. “The goal is to play all the top teams in the area in Bergen County and Essex County. We’re up to the challenge.”
The Royal Knights return one of the top players in Hudson County in junior guard Breyanna Frazier, who has been a Hudson Reporter All-Area First Team honoree in both of her high school seasons.
The 5-foot-9 Frazier averaged 17.1 points and six rebounds per game last year as the off-guard. This year, Frazier slides over to be the Knights’ point guard now that Rosario is in college.
“I want to see some improvement in her rebounding and assists,” Quinn said of Frazier. “It’s going to be a challenge for her being the lead guard now. She also has to be the team leader. I think she’s up for the challenge. She’s only going to get better as a point guard. We’re going to start her there and see how it goes.”
But Frazier is the lone returning player from last year’s magical 24-2 run.
“We basically have a whole new team,” Quinn said. “Can we say we’ll be undefeated again? We know that doesn’t happen often. We will find out the identity of this team in a hurry.”
The Royal Knights have benefitted from the closure of St. Anthony High School, gaining a handful of players who will have an immediate impact with the Knights.
Leading the way is 5-foot-8 senior guard Zyearah Taylor-Gaston, who scored more than 1,000 points during her three-year stint at St. Anthony and was a former Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week and Hudson Reporter All-Area honoree in 2016 (First Team) and 2015 (Third Team).
“She has good scoring ability,” Quinn said. “No one who has ever seen her play could deny that. She’s going to be a good fit for us. She once averaged 22 per game. You can’t replace her experience.”
Quinn definitely benefitted from the closure of St. Anthony, because three of his starting players are former Friars.
Senior Trinidy Alicea is a 5-foot-7 swing player who could play either guard or forward.
“She’s a very good player,” Quinn said. “She’s a very good on-the-ball defender. We just have to see if she can play at a higher level.”
Serenity Jackson is a 5-foot-8 forward who also played last season for St. Anthony.
Another talented transfer is 5-foot-7 sophomore Nia Scott, who comes to Marist from J.P. Stevens High in Edison.
“I predict good things from her,” Quinn said of Scott. “She can play the point or be the off guard. She’s very aggressive going to the basket and can make plays. I expect huge things from her.”
Junior Ciara Castillo is a 5-foot-2 guard who can step in and play the point in place of Frazier. Castillo saw a lot of action at point guard for the Knights last year, learning a lot from Rosario.
The Knights have two freshmen who will see playing time in 5-foot-3 guard Monaysia Emerson and 5-foot-7 forward Ijahne Smart.
The Knights will continue with a tradition that was started by the late great coach Bill DeFazio and host a top-flight Christmas tournament Dec. 27, 28 and 30, featuring a lot of New York’s top programs like Moore Catholic, Notre Dame, St. Joseph’s of Brooklyn, Petridis and Tottenville. New Jersey programs like Hackensack and East Orange are also part of the eight-team field. It should be a basketball bonanza at Marist, much like the way DeFazio constructed during his legendary tenure.
The Knights opened against Hoboken this weekend as well as Trenton Catholic. They will face St. Dominic Academy this week.
Quinn knows that the perception is that the Knights will struggle this season.
“I like the fact that people are saying that we won’t be the same team,” Quinn said. “We’ll show people just how tough we are.”…
The St. Peter’s University men’s basketball team traveled to South Orange to face nationally ranked Seton Hall last Tuesday and the Peacocks dropped an 84-61 decision in a game that was never close, especially after the 15th-ranked Pirates raced out to a 10-0 lead, displaying a ferocious and tenacious defense.
Needless to say, Peacocks head coach John Dunne had a lot of praise for his opponents.
“We had Terry Dehere [the former St. Anthony standout who went on to become Seton Hall’s all-time leading scorer and eventually an extended stint in the NBA] in for a practice recently and I said to him that this Seton Hall team is probably the best team since he was there,” Dunne said. “I usually don’t get overly impressed watching other teams, but I’m impressed with these guys. They have all the pieces. They play unselfishly. They’re legit.”
Dunne’s team is now 4-5 overall, but they will compete in the MAAC, even though they’re very young. But from a sportswriter’s standpoint, they have players with names that are nightmares. The Peacocks have Mamadou Ndiaye, Samuel Idowu, Davauhnte Turner and the topper in Nnamdi Enechionyia. That last one, which is like the bottom line of the eye chart at the optometrist’s office, had to be checked five times even after typing it. The Peacocks play home at Yanitelli Center on Dec. 23 against St. Francis of Brooklyn and Dec. 31 in the showdown with perennial MAAC powerhouse Monmouth. The St. Francis game is at 2 p.m. and the New Year’s Eve game is at noon…
Congrats to former St. Peter’s Prep standout and current Alabama great Minkah Fitzpatrick, who recently won both the Jim Thorpe Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award for being named the top defensive back and top overall defensive player in the nation.
Fitzpatrick, who will lead the Crimson Tide to the Sugar Bowl and the national semifinals against Clemson on New Year’s Day, is more than likely going to come out and enter the NFL Draft. One recent prognosticator stated that Fitzpatrick could possibly be selected as the No. 4 pick overall in the upcoming draft. That’s just incredible news for a great kid who always finds his way back to his alma mater to make his presence felt…
Congrats to Union City head football coach Wilber Valdez, who was selected as the North Jersey Super Football Conference-Liberty Division Coach of the Year. Valdez, who was also honored by the New York Jets as their Coach of the Week earlier this season, somehow was not selected as the Coach of the Year here.
Valdez was definitely worthy of receiving the honor here and somehow, even with all his success, has not been named Hudson Reporter Coach of the Year since 2005 when he was coaching at Ferris. That’s a tremendous oversight, but it just shows the level of consistency Valdez has enjoyed at Union City…
In closing, Hudson County lost a truly great man this week when former Hudson Catholic teacher, coach and athletic director Tom Gentile died suddenly of a heart attack, just weeks away from his retirement as an administrator at Sayreville High School.
Gentile was a lot like his name, truly a gentle man who cared so much for all the people _ athletes, students, teachers _ that he had the grace to work with. There isn’t a person alive who could utter a bad word about Tommy. It’s a shame he passed on before he had a chance to settle down and enjoy life. He will be so sorely missed. – Jim Hague.

Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.

Bayonne residents bid farewell to council members Gullace and Ashe-Nadrowski

Daniel Israel, Staff Writer
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Bayonne residents bid farewell to council members Gullace and Ashe-Nadrowski

At their last meeting as members of the Bayonne City Council, residents said their goodbyes to outgoing Second Ward City Councilman Sal Gullace and outgoing City Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski.

Gullace opted not to run for re-election after being booted from Mayor James Davis’ council slate, and Ashe-Nadrowski lost her bid for mayor in the 2022 non-partisan municipal election.

Send off for Sal and Sharon

At the top of the June 15 meeting, Ashe-Nadrowski highlight it was Gullace’s last meeting as the councilman for the Second Ward. Gullace then gave a short speech thanking all those who have helped him over the years.

“I’d like to say thank you to Chief [Keith] Weaver in the back, for every time I called you you answered. So thank you,” Gullace said. “Chief [Robert] Geisler’s not here, but thank you to you too… Beth, our secretary, she’s not here but she did a lot for the eight years that I was here. And Tommy Cotter DPW, too… Joe [Ryan], you always answered my calls, thank you…  Thank you to my friends and family… So thanks to everybody out there. I appreciate your support.”

Gullace also thanked those who offered him and his family support in the wake of the waste collection truck accident he was involved in as part of his work for the Hudson County Improvement Authority.

“The residents out there, when I got hurt, everybody pulled together and sent my family food,” Gullace said. “That was appreciated. Thanks to everybody out there.”

In closing, Gullace wished the returning council members luck in their upcoming terms: “Everybody up here, good luck for the next four years,” Gullace said.

Following Gullace’s short speech, Ashe-Nadrowski also highlighted it was her last meeting as City Council President and an At-Large City Councilwoman.

“I’d just like to say I enjoyed working for the residents of Bayonne,” Ashe-Nadrowski said. “I’m honored to have served as council president for the last eight years. I think I learned a lot about the residents of Bayonne and the city of Bayonne. I think we did a lot of good things, things that will continue on in Bayonne for a long time. I’m proud of everything that we did, proud of my service, and proud of the people of Bayonne.”

The Planning Board meeting the day before on June 14 was also Ashe-Nadrowski’s last. During the meeting, she also gave short goodbye to her role as the council’s designee on the board.

“I think we did a lot of great things,” Ashe-Nadrowski said to the board, referencing responsible residential redevelopment as well as much-needed commercial redevelopment like Costco and Starbucks. “There were a few little bumps on things that could have been done better. But we only get better at what we’re doing. I’m sure there will be a lot of great things moving forward and I wish you all the best.”

‘Do not go gentle into that good night’

At the June council meeting, a number of residents took to the podium to thank Gullace and Ashe-Nadrowski for their service on the council. And many encouraged them to remain involved.

Dave Solari, a resident who frequently spoke at meetings, bid both Gullace and Ashe-Nadrowski farewell. First, Solari congratulated the returning and new council members: “I’d like to congratulate the ones that won. Just remember, you’re still being watched.”

Solari then addressed Ashe-Nadrowski, complimenting and criticizing her campaign in retrospect: ”When eight years ago, I had nothing to do with this administration. I had nothing to do with it four years ago. It was a very hard decision to see who you wanted to go with. There wasn’t too many things out there to pick from, and you ran a good campaign. You really did. Honestly I think you should have got out there a little sooner or whatever, but it’s over and done with.”

Additionally, Solari encouraged Ashe-Nadrowski to stay involved with the council, and potentially run again for office in 2026.

“You could be the watchdog now,” Solari said. “Four years comes fast, don’t count yourself out. You only lost to that guy by a few numbers. He had the machine, he had the money, he had Jersey City. He had all them, he even had county people. He was playing the role. And he should be a disgrace to himself, but don’t count yourself out. Come back in four years. Come to these meetings each month and show them. Because you are a very good person and you did run these council meetings good. You were a fighter. We had the battles, I’m not going to say we didn’t. But I wasn’t going to lose.” 

Ashe-Nadrowski jokingly quipped back: “I don’t like to lose either… I never shied away from a good fight.”

Solari continued: “Good luck whatever you do for the next four years. But just remember, you can come back. You can run. You can win.”

Then Solari addressed Gullace: “Sal we had our battles, on and off, in here, on the street. But you are a friend. You always stayed a friend, because we go back a long tie. Good luck, but your problem was your friends sold you out. If you still have that guy as your friend, get rid of him, because he’s not a friend. He played the mayor’s role, you know who he is and that’s all that matters. But listen, four years comes fast too. Come here, you know what’s going. Good luck whatever you do. I hope your recovery gets faster and I hope you’re back to work soon.”

Second Ward City Councilman Sal Gullace thanked those who supported him at his last council meeting on June 15.

Ashe-Nadrowski encourages residents to stick around

Solari ended by stating he may no longer come to council meetings: “Good luck everybody. I don’t know if I will be back again. Maybe one more time, and that’s it.”

Ashe-Nadrowski encouraged residents to remain involved regarding the city council, even in the wake of the recent election. The meeting was already remarkably more empty following months of meetings packed with residents opining on key issues prior to the vote in May.

“I’m sad to hear that because, in all seriousness, it’s very important for the public to engage and participate,” Ashe-Nadrowski said. “I have been very lenient and some of my colleagues didn’t appreciate that I let people talk and express their opinion longer than they should. But we are here to serve the people and that is our thing. If we don’t listen to them, we certainly don’t know what their needs are. So I thank you all who come out here regularly and put your time in because you care.”

Gail Godesky, a resident and former city employee, echoed Solari in encouraging Ashe-Nadrowski to remain active in the community and local government.

“Madam president, thank you for being honest, transparent, and true to your word during your eight years of service,” Godesky said. “There were times when you took a lot of heat and a lot of it I did give. And I don’t apologize for that. It just made me more educated. It led to more knowledge for me and the residents of Bayonne. I echo what everybody said. The city really should appreciate you and your wisdom… I appreciate you, thank you for your service and hopefully I’ll see you around town.”

Godesky also shared kinds words about Gullace: “Sal, you were not my councilman, but any time I needed help you were always there for me. I appreciate your kindness, especially during COVID. What you and Donna did for the residents of the city of Bayonne along with Sharon and our Business Administrator [Melissa Mathews] to make sure that the seniors had food, you sat in your kitchen and cooked up a storm and delivered it. I will never forget that. I wish you all the best and success in your future endeavors… As the other gentlemen put it, don’t leave behind your wisdom. Your knowledge is true to heart and I know you care.”

Onward and upward

Lastly, Godesky echoed Solari when it comes to the current council: “For the rest of the council sitting up there, I hope you learned a hard lesson and I hope you will be working for the residents of the city of Bayonne and not the developers… There’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and I hope in the near future we can see some progress. So to everybody, much success, be safe, and stay healthy.”

Another frequent face at Bayonne council meetings, Edward “Lefty” Grimes added: “Thank you Sharon for your service and your leadership. Sal, thank you too. Good luck to you both.”

At the end of the meeting, before adjourning, Ashe-Nadrowski offered some final parting words: “Thank you for the honor and privilege of serving here for the last eight years. It’s been an honor working with the people here in City Hall and the residents of Bayonne.”

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

HOBOKEN BRIEFS

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HOBOKEN BRIEFS

Jersey City and Garfield teens arrested in light rail shooting in Hoboken

NJ Transit Police have arrested and charged two men in connection with shots being fired at the Ninth Street light rail station, located in Hoboken down the hill from Jersey City Heights, earlier this month.
On Friday, May 11, at approximately 8:30 p.m., New Jersey Transit Police say that Anthony Aguilar, 19, of Garfield, and Zaire Batista, 18, of Jersey City, were allegedly involved in an ongoing dispute with an 18-year-old male that quickly escalated into shots being fired at the Ninth Street Station of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Station in Hoboken. The two then fled the scene. No injuries were reported as a result of the gunfire.
Both men were arrested in their respective homes. Aguilar was arrested Tuesday; Batista was arrested last Thursday.
“The NJ Transit Police Department takes the safety and security of those on our transit system seriously and we investigate each criminal case fully until we find the perpetrator,’’ said NJ Transit Police Department Chief Christopher Trucillo. “We encourage everyone within the NJ Transit system that if they ‘See something, say something.’ Let this serve as a reminder to all that the New Jersey Transit Police Department will relentlessly pursue all leads, no matter how big or small.”
Batista has been charged with criminal attempted murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and several drug-related offenses.
Aguilar has been charged with criminal attempted murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
The two were remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending a hearing in Hudson County Central Judicial Processing Court.
NJ Transit encourages customers to remain aware of their surroundings and to be the eyes and ears for law enforcement. To report a crime, suspicious activity or unattended packages contact the New Jersey Transit Police Department at 1-888-TIPS-NJT or send a text message to NJTPD (65873).

Attend the museum WWI lecture today, May 27

On Sunday, May 27 at 4 p.m. the Hoboken Historical Museum will host World War I historical reenactor Brandon English for a lecture about his experience as a reenactor and life as a Doughboy. Hoboken was an important port of embarkation during the Great War for about 2 million U.S. soldiers shipping to and from Europe.
Admission for the talk is $5, and is free for Hoboken Museum members. Due to popular demand for previous lecture series, advance reservations are strongly advised. Sign up by going to https://tinyurl.com/y9gxncu9.

Downtown Hoboken parking restricted for a new bike lane

On Friday, Hoboken announced that downtown parking will be restricted along the city’s main street. Starting on Tuesday, May 29 through Thursday, May 31, there will be no parking on either side of Washington Street from Observer Highway to Third Street as the green Endura-Blend Bike Lanes are scheduled to be installed.

Workshops for Rebuild by Design project to take place in Hoboken

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and engineering firm AECOM will host a series of design workshops in May and June to solicit feedback on the Rebuild by Design Hudson River project.
The project will help protect Hoboken in times of extreme weather events from flooding using infrastructures like floodwalls, seawalls, and soft landscaping such as berms and levees which could be in the form of parks, rain gardens, bicycle parking, murals, in northern and southern Hoboken.
A workshop will take place on May 30 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 1600 Adams St. in the North Hudson Sewerage Authority Board Room and another will take place the following day, May 31, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Multi-Service Center at 124 Grand St. These workshops will discuss the alignment in the North end of the project area from the border of Weehawken, through Harborside Park, to Washington Street south of Fourteenth Street.
On June 6 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 22 Hackensack Ave. in Weehawken (St. Lawrence RC Church) another workshop will be held to discuss the Weehawken design of the alignment as well as Harborside Park.
Later workshops are expected to be scheduled for late June which will discuss the design of the alignment in Hoboken’s south near Observer Highway and the Jersey City portion of the alignment.

High School club to host induction ceremony for Hispanic leaders

On Wednesday, May 31, the Hoboken High School Hispanic Culture Club will host their 4th annual Hispanic Culture Club Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Hispanic Heritage Celebration.
The public celebration will feature performances from students, and guests, and the swearing-in of new officers as well the Induction of new members to the Hoboken High School Hispanic Culture Club Hall of Fame.
This year’s inductees are educator Carolina Martinez, Hoboken Police Officer Juan Madera, and City Council President Ruben Ramos Jr.
The purpose of the Hispanic Culture Club Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals who have made a positive impact in the Hispanic and Hoboken community.
“For most Hispanic families, celebrating culture is not particularly difficult. It frequently permeates our lifestyle, embedding itself in our psyche,” according to the club’s press release. “But the Hispanic Culture Club is the perfect opportunity to delve more deeply into the history of our ancestors and help create an intimate knowledge of the role that Hispanics have played in the history and psyche of the United States and Hoboken, as well as the effect they’ve had on our culture.”
The event is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and is located in the Hoboken High School auditorium at 800 Clinton St. The event is free and open to the public.

Hoboken Housing Authority announces Community Health Fair

The Hoboken Housing Authority will host a community health fair on Saturday June 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 319 Jackson St. The event will include music, games, prizes, raffles, giveaway and more. Free health screenings will also take place.
For more information visit www.myhhanj.com or contact the housing authority at hha@myhhanj.com and (201) 253-3049.

Mayor exchange program underway

Last week Mayor Ravi Bhalla was scheduled to travel to Villalba, Puerto Rico to meet with Mayor Luis Javier “Javi” Hernández Ortiz to discuss hurricane recovery efforts and issues still facing both cities.
“We here in Hoboken know what it’s like to suffer a devastating storm,” said Bhalla in a press release. “It’s been almost six years since Hurricane Sandy, and we’ve learned a lot in that time. I hope our visit will help the people of Villalba on their long journey towards recovery.”
At a later date, Mayor Hernández Ortiz will come to Hoboken to learn how local storm recovery efforts, such as Rebuild By Design, may be applied in Villalba.
“My trip there will help me understand what they went through and how it relates to what we went through after Sandy,” said Bhalla. “When Mayor Hernández Ortiz comes to Hoboken, he will get to see how we’re addressing the impact of flooding.”
The educational trips are financed by the Open Society Foundation.

ONE ART Hoboken to take place June 2

On Saturday June 2 at 8 p.m. Issyra Gallery at 300 Observer Hwy. will host ONE ART Hoboken, a monthly music, poetry, and art series which features Hudson County performers. It typically takes place the first Saturday of every month and aims to bring together vibrant multi-generational, multi-cultural, multi-genre performing artists to Hoboken audiences.
This installment includes music by Mr. Flanner & His Feelings, Courtier, L.E.S. Sinners and E.V. Jubilee and words by Chuck Joy and Kimberly Brown.

Hudson County CASA is seeking volunteers

Learn how to become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer and help foster children find safe and permanent homes. The next information session will be held at the Hudson County Courthouse, 595 Newark Ave. Rm. 901 on Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a non-profit organization committed to advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes. Hudson County CASA volunteers are everyday people who make a direct impact in foster children’s lives. They are trusted, dedicated adults who seek to improve children’s well-being. CASA volunteers get to know their assigned child and his or her circumstances and provide valuable information to the court. Judges rely on the volunteers’ recommendations to make the best decisions about the children’s futures.
For further information, visit www.hudsoncountycasa.org.

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