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Bayonne residents petition for Alonso to resign

Daniel Israel, Staff Writer
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Bayonne residents petition for Alonso to resign

Bayonne residents continue to call on Board of Education Trustee Michael Alonso to resign over his social media comments that many consider racist and an incitement to violence.

On June 29, concerned citizens gathered for a small protest outside of Bayonne High School prior to the Board of Education meeting.

In early June, Alonso’s Facebook posts regarding protests against the murder of George Floyd sparked outrage.

Floyd was an unarmed African-American man who was killed in Minneapolis when police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.

A screenshot of Alonso’s posts have been circulating on social media, but they no longer appear on Alonso’s page.

“Where will the Bayonne Riot Start? Walmart- QuickChek- Shoprite?” Alonso posted.

In another post, Alonso shared a political cartoon of Joe Biden changing a “Black Lives Matter Sign” to “Black Votes Matter.”

On June 2, the Bayonne Board of Education held an emergency meeting, during which Trustees Jodi Casais, Lisa Burke, Vice President Christopher Munoz and President Maria Valado called on Alonso to resign.

The board voted 7-0 to adopt a resolution condemning the killing of George Floyd as well as Alonso’s comments, which they deemed racist. Trustees Ava Finnerty and Alonso were not present.

In addition to many school boards, the Hudson County Republican leadership has also called on Alonso to resign.

Protesters gathered outside the June 29 Board of Education meeting.

At that emergency meeting, Rev. Dorothy Patterson of Wallace Temple AME Zion Church demanded his immediate removal.

“If you allow him to stay on this board, you have now put a knee on the neck of every African American in this city,” Patterson said.

She challenged the board to go beyond what they were told was possible and remove Alonso, doing not just the right thing but also what she said was the righteous thing.

“I came here today hoping I can leave here and breathe,” Patterson said of the figurative knee being held on her neck by Alonso’s remaining on the board.

The board cannot remove Alonso because he is an elected official. Many of the trustees urged residents to file ethics complaints against him and vote him out in November.

Alonso said the posts were meant to spark “an intellectual discussion” and that he does not intend to resign.

A group of concerned citizens, meanwhile, with the backing of local activist group Black in Bayonne, handed in hundreds of signatures petitioning for his removal.

‘Alonso must go!’

Michael Alonso (not wearing a mask) spoke at the June 29 Board of Education meeting.

A small group of protesters, led by Shawnda Jacobs brandishing a megaphone, chanted and waived signs in front of Bayonne High School before the June 29 meeting.

Jacobs said the group will be at every Board of Education meeting until Alonso resigns.

Ortavia Jackson, a tutor, mentor and mother, also called for his resignation or immediate removal.

Many residents wrote comments to the board calling for Alonso’s removal, some of which were read aloud by the board secretary.

At the meeting, the protesters and other residents called for his resignation or removal, including Bayonne Teacher’s Association President Gene Woods and Bayonne High School student Dominic Velez.

Velez said that Alonso’s comments have been an issue for years and read out offensive Facebook posts from 2013 to 2017.

“Hate should never have a place to live on the board that represents our school district or within its representatives,” Velez said. “It has found a place to live with Michael Alonso where it has lived, grown, and festered for years. I and other members of the community have watched this go on for years, and it is safe to say we have had enough.”

Velez condemned a video statement in which Alonso said that other board members should be tolerant and “practice what they preach.”

Velez said, “You may deny it all you want, but we know that your intolerance of people who are different from you has fueled your actions that have inevitably led to the board to call for your resignation.”

Woods condemned Alonso’s video as “comical,” alleging that Alonso suggested not paying teachers during the pandemic.

Velez said that he and other community members have signed the petition against Alonso and will vote against him in November.

Calls for immediate removal

In the petition addressed to the Board of Education Trustees, calls for Alonso’s removal continue to mount.

“It is the aim of the community of Bayonne, New Jersey to build a better Bayonne, however on May 31, 2020 Michael J. Alonso, Trustee Board of Education member, posted social media comments that were not only Racist, Bias, but also an Incitement of Violence right here in our town,” the petition states.

The petition charges that Alonso’s “remarks have concerned the community of Bayonne” and his actions “should not and will not be accepted in our community.”

“We all consider this town ‘Bayonne Strong’ for many different reasons,” the petition said. “We will not allow this type of behavior to go unseen especially for the safety of all of us who live and work in Bayonne.”

The petition urges leaders to act now to remove Alonso immediately from the school board.

“We are always striving to build a better Bayonne, and Trustee Michael J. Alonso has tarnished his reputation as a TRUSTEE of the Board of Education. That is a calling to a higher standard,” the petition said. “Trustee Michael J. Alonso has proven by his own words and actions on social media that he is not capable of making educational decisions for all our children.”

The petition has been circulating on social media, with printed copies for pick up at participating businesses.

Alonso’s defense

In a previous statement to the Bayonne Community News, Alonso defended his posts.

“My post was about Bayonne’s economic viability; an intellectual discussion on why we won’t have looting since we don’t have any stores,” Alonso said.

According to Alonso, people in the city have been complaining for years about there being no stores.

“I am an advocate of peaceful protest, but rioting and looting should not be tolerated,” Alonso said, reiterating his support for President Trump. “No one is thinking about keeping our kids safe. They are just thinking about their re-election.”

Alonso has also released a video in defense of his comments, in which he thanks local ShopRite and WalMart employees for their service.

Akin to a campaign ad, the video features clips of the trustees calling on Alonso to resign before cutting to Alonso at the Bayonne WalMart.

He reiterated that his first post about potential riots was only a conversation starter and urged everyone to accept each other’s differences.

The video un-ironically ends with a still image featuring a George Orwell quote: “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”

At the June 29 meeting, Alonso did not address comments regarding his posts.

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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Menendez speaks out after mistrial declared

The 11-week trial of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) ended Thursday when Judge William Walls declared a mistrial after the jury said they could not come to a verdict. Prosecutors have not said whether they would re-file charges that were the result of a five-year investigation.
Menendez was charged with conspiracy, bribery, and honest services fraud in his duties as U.S. Senator, and for accepting more than $600,000 in political contributions and gifts from a long time friend Dr. Salomon Melgen. Prosecutors attempted to prove Menendez took these things in exchange for political favors to Melgen, who was convicted of unrelated charges earlier this year.
This decision by the judge to declare a mistrial also came after a juror was excused, and she talked to the press about some of the discussions going in the jury deliberations.
In comments after the trial, Menendez thanked his supporters and condemned the system of justice he believed was abusive.
“The way this case started was wrong,” he said. “The way it was investigated was wrong. The way it was prosecuted was wrong. And the way it was tried was wrong as well. Certain elements of the FBI and of our state cannot understand, or even worse, accept that the Latino kid from Union City and Hudson County can grow up to be a United States senator and be honest.” Menendez said, “I can’t even begin to tell you how many people have come to tell me that the FBI went to them and asked them ‘What can you give us on Menendez?’ That is not what the FBI and the Department of Justice is supposed to be doing. They were not supposed to be leaking to the press in the early stages of their investigation. It violated my rights to a fair process.”
Menendez went on to say: “I’ve made my share of mistakes, but my mistakes were never a crime. I’ve learned through this process a lot about our system of justice. It is truly a system of justice you can afford. I understand why so many Americans feel that justice is elusive. I’ve also learned about the incredible weight and power of the federal government and how it can crush you, if it wants to. It gives me an even greater resolve to make sure that there is a check to that awesome power.”
In a statement, local Rep. Albio Sires continued to support Menendez.
“Today’s outcome by the jury shows that after 11 weeks they could not come to a unanimous decision. Bob and I have worked together for the better part of our careers whether it was as mayor’s, members of the New Jersey Assembly, and now in Washington to improve the lives of all New Jerseyans. It’s clear that he has never stopped fighting for our state.”
Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise also issued a statement.
“I knew my friend Bob Menendez would prevail because after working with him for nearly two decades, I know who he is as a person, and what he stands for as a public servant, that is above all, fighting for the voiceless in this country,” said DeGise. “With so much left to be done, with so many vulnerable people under threat from a GOP-run Washington, I am very happy to know that Bob Menendez will be able to get back into that fight full time now. And I look forward to supporting him next year when he seeks re-election to continue this vital work.”

Northwest Resiliency Park meeting Nov. 30

Residents are invited to complete an online survey for the Northwest Resiliency Park at www.hobokennj.gov/nwparksurvey in advance of a stakeholders meeting to work with the community on design concepts for the park, on Thursday, Nov. 30 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Wallace School cafeteria, at 1100 Willow Ave.
Hoboken’s largest park will provide recreation and public space and will also be a fundamental part of the city’s resiliency strategy, integrating green infrastructure and innovative stormwater management measures to mitigate flooding from rainfall events.
The city opened a temporary pop-up park at the site this year, which will remain in place during the design process for the permanent park.
The park is located between Adams Street, Madison Street, Twelfth Street and Thirteenth Street.

Museum happenings

On Sunday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m., the Hoboken Historical Museum will host a celebration for their latest oral history chapbook, “Palumbo’s Tavern.”
Ann Palumbo Monaco recalls her grandparents’ Monroe Street tavern, where neighbors gathered to relax, gossip, celebrate, and to enjoy Anna Palumbo’s fabulous “pasta fazool.” The event is free and all attendees can receive a copy.
Palumbo’s Tavern is the latest in the museum’s published oral history series, “Vanishing Hoboken.” To see the whole series, visit https://www.hobokenmuseum.org/explore-hoboken/oral-history-project/.
On Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 6:30 p.m., the museum will host the latest edition of the Black Maria Film Festival Award-Winners series, “A Bastard Child.” The one-hour documentary uses hand-illustrated images to tell the story of the filmmaker’s grandmother, an orphan in Sweden in the early 1900s. Admission is just $5, no registration necessary.
On Friday, Dec. 1, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Education Curator Maria Lara hosts the third and final “Kids Night at the Museum” of the year. Kids’ Night is a chance for kids ages 5 and up to leave their parents at home and have their own night of fun. Kids can spend the evening at the Hoboken Historical Museum and enjoy games, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt, pizza and popcorn, and a movie — this time, Gene Wilder’s “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” The cost is $25 per child, $20 for members’ children.
To register go to https://tinyurl.com/ycqapmog .

Local lawyer acknowledged for pro-bono work

Hoboken Resident Susan Ross was awarded the 2017 Cornerstone Award last week by the Lawyers Alliance For New York for outstanding pro bono legal services to nonprofits.
Ross is senior counsel at Norton Rose Fullbright US LLP began volunteering with Lawyers alliance in 1992.
Recently she has helped non-profits Caring Community, a senior serving organization in Manhattan, and JustTell.org, which raises awareness about and seeks to address childhood sexual abuse, when they created website privacy policies.
Ross additionally assisted Dress for Success Worldwide with its launch of a database accessible to its affiliates and Ross also worked with the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) on a contract review and negotiation for the purchase and implementation of a new case management system and a separate contract for an IT consultant to manage the project.
“I’ve been working with Lawyers Alliance on pro bono matters for many years, not only helping organizations on technology and privacy transactional matters, but also expanding my own skillset by working with others in areas or on transactions that I wouldn’t normally see,” said Ross in a press release from the Lawyers Alliance. “I look forward to seeing the new ways that Lawyers Alliance will enable attorneys to help give back to the New York community.”

The Hudson School presents ‘The House of Blue Leaves’

“The House of Blue Leaves” by John Guare will be presented at The Hudson School Performance Space at 601 Park Ave on Fridays and Saturdays from Dec. 1 to Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. as well as Sunday Dec. 3 at 2 p.m.
“The House of Blue Leaves” won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American Play in 1971 and the 1971 Obie Award, Best American Play; it won four Tony Awards for its 1986 revival at Lincoln Center Theater
The play is set in Queens, N.Y. in 1965 on the day Pope Paul VI visited New York City. The dark comedy focuses on Artie Shaughnessy, a zookeeper who dreams of making it big in Hollywood as a songwriter. Artie wants to take his girlfriend Bunny with him to Hollywood despite the fact he is married to Bananas, a schizophrenic. Their son Ronnie is a soldier headed for Vietnam who goes AWOL from Fort Dix, bringing with him a homemade bomb intended to blow up the Pope in Yankee Stadium.
Tickets are $15 for students and $10 for seniors. For reservations, contact Adam Sentoni at asentoni@thehudsonschool.org

Mile Square Theatre will perform ‘39 Steps’

Mile Square Theatre closes its 2017 season with “The 39 Steps,” a rowdy send up of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller. Patrick Barlow’s adaptation is a fast-paced comic romp that turns the classic Hitchcock masterpiece into an evening of pure comic joy for audiences of all ages.
“We are so excited to produce “The 39 Steps” this holiday season,” said MST Artistic Director Chris O’Connor. “We wanted to present a show that would delight everybody, and this show fits the bill. It’s no exaggeration that our director, Mark Shanahan, is probably the best person in America to direct it, too. He was in it on Broadway, and has directed many regional theatre productions.”
“The 39 Steps” begins performances on Nov. 30 and runs until Dec. 23 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.
The cast includes Joe Delafield (Tartuffe on Broadway), Helen Hayes, Award Winner Zachary Fine, Evan Zes (Signature Theatre’s Incident at Vichy), and Hoboken’s Alycia Kunkle.
Tickets range from $30 to $40 and and students and seniors can get discounted tickets at $18.
The theater is located at 1400 Clinton St.
For more information on Mile Square Theatre, please visit www.milesquaretheatre.org.

Theatre Ensemble presents show for children

The Hudson Theatre Ensemble’s Silly on Sixth Children’s Series presents “Sing Me A Story with Sue!” at the Hudson School Performance Space, 601 Park Ave., Hoboken, on
Sunday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 25, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The show runs about 40 minutes and is suitable for children aged 2 to 10. All tickets are $10.
For reservations, call (201) 377-7014 or reservations@hudsontheatreensemble.com.
And if your child has a November birthday, incorporate Silly on Sixth into your birthday plans. The entire audience will sing Happy Birthday to your child, the kids meet the actors after the show, and you can take photos of your child with the actors. Call Florence for details at (201) 377-7014.

Are Jersey City students going back to school soon?

Marilyn Baer, Staff Writer
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Are Jersey City students going back to school soon?

Since March, Jersey City public school students have been home and learning remotely. They may finally return to schools during the fourth marking period, according to Superintendent of Schools Franklin Walker.

“Our goal is to bring students for in-person learning during the fourth marking period if public-health statistics for the state continue to trend in a favorable direction,” he said.

To help prepare for the possible reopening, the district, during its board of education meeting last month, presented the 331-page Building Readiness document which outlines how the district is “COVID proofing” each school building for reopening.

According to Walker, the district has old buildings with crowded classrooms, which makes getting them ready difficult and costly.

The Building Readiness document includes details on cleaning supplies, air duct work, indoor air quality testing, PPE equipment, hand sanitizing stations, desktop barriers and Plexiglas installation, and thermal imaging temperature scanner instillation at all 50 schools.

“The definition of ready changes from one moment to the next, but for the most part we are,” Walker said.

“Our district is going above and beyond, squeezing out every dollar of this CARES funding, to prepare our schools for our educators and for everyone to be safe when they come back,” said Board of Education President Mussab Ali.

During the meeting, several parents urged the board to reopen schools in April or sooner with many saying they just wanted the choice to send their children for in-person instruction or opt for continued remote learning.

“My children are young and suffering,” said parent Tricia Cuthbertson. “They are stressed, unmotivated, and anxious.”

‘It’s costing people money and jobs’

She said that not everyone can work from home and help their children with remote learning, noting “it is costing people money and jobs.”

Prior to the meeting an online petition circulated urging the district to allow students to return to school.

“It is time to re-open Jersey City Public Schools to give families a choice for safe in-person learning!” states the petition. “Students and parents are suffering from increased stress, anxiety, and social isolation given the prolonged period of remote learning.  Studies show that the achievement disparities have worsened across income levels and between White students and Black and Hispanic students as a result of online learning since COVID-19.”

The petition, which garnered more than 390 signatures, states that neighboring school districts have implemented measures and returned to some form of in-person instruction, including New York City and Hoboken.

“While we understand the fears of the unknown, we do not want our school leaders to make decisions based on fear,” states the petition. “Please consider the facts on how schools can safely re-open and the impact remote learning has had on our children and families. Please give families a choice to attend in-person learning.”

According to Walker, the biggest factor on when the district’s schools will reopen will be vaccinating the staff.

“My goal since March when the governor identified we’d be operating remotely, has been and continues to be to reopen schools, but in doing so, we have to certainly be reasonable in terms of the safety and welfare of all the students involved,” Walker said.

The date for when schools would reopen has been pushed back several times throughout the pandemic, from September to February and now April.

“Every date that we’ve given to reopen has been preceded by doing a survey with the instructional staff to identify who would be available and based upon the number of staff members that have identified either some kind of compromised immunity or even age and other concerns, its placed us in a situation where we have not been able to provide the necessary supervision at this point and time,” said Walker. “We are hoping that with the vaccine being available, that would help to speed things up, and we are looking forward to that happening.”

He noted that as soon as the vaccines are available in Jersey City, the district would make them available to its employees.

Trustee Gerald Lyons said he would like the board to write a letter to the state to ask for guidance on whether the board can require staff to get vaccinated before returning to in-person instruction. Trustee Alexander Hamilton said he, too, is hoping to get teachers vaccinated and discuss with the state how to step up the vaccination process, noting the “slow rollout” of the vaccine in Hudson County.

To read the Build Readiness document go to tinyurl.com/4mp468w8

For updates on this and other stories check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Marilyn Baer can be reached at Marilynb@hudsonreporter.com

HOBOKEN BRIEFS

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Candidate forums announced

The Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition has announced its dates and locations for the 2017 Hoboken candidate forums for the upcoming Nov. 7 election.
“These forums give Hoboken voters a chance to hear candidates for office answer the questions they care most about in an even-handed and direct format,” states the release.
On Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Mile Square Theater, 1400 Clinton St., and Monday Oct. 16 at the Multiservice Center, 124 Grand St., the 14 at-large city council candidates will speak at public forums.
Due to the large number of candidates for the three open at-large City Council seats, the QLC used a software program to randomly assign the 14 candidates into two groups of seven. The candidates assigned to Oct. 12 are Laini Hammond, Joshua Einstein, Michael Flett, Vanessa Falco, Andrew Impastato, Councilman David Mello, and Angelo Valente. The candidates assigned to Oct. 16 are Charles Matthews, Sal Starace, Jim Aibel, Jason Ellis, Emily Jabbour, John Allen, and Jim Doyle.
On Thursday, Oct. 19 the seven Board of Education candidates will meet at the School Hall of the Church of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 422 Willow Ave., and on Wednesday, Oct. 25 the mayoral candidates will meet at DeBaun Auditorium, 24 Fifth St.
Each forum will begin at 7 p.m. and will last about two hours, with a brief intermission.
This year’s candidate forums will follow an established format with questions submitted on index cards by members of the audience and posed to each of the candidates in turn by moderator Bob Bowdon, a professional interviewer and longtime resident of Hoboken.
Each candidate will have a minute and a half to respond, and the order of response will be randomized each round.
A video of the sorting process is posted on the QLC Facebook page.

Board of Education candidate clarifies HoLa vote

Sharyn Angley, one of seven candidates for the Hoboken Board of Education, clarified her position on the Board of Education’s past litigation against the expansion of the HoLa charter school.
In the past, the school board sued the Department of Education and HoLa to prevent the school’s expansion to seventh and eighth grades because the board majority believed that due to the state funding formula, the charter schools take too many resources from district schools and are socioeconomically segregated.
Angley stated in an email last week that she did not actually vote to continue the litigation. She voted at the February, 2016 meeting against a resolution to stop the litigation – but said she voted that way because of improper board procedure.
She explained that typically, the board operates under a committee structure in which board resolutions are vetted by the appropriate committee and then recommended to the board for approval. During this particular February meeting, she said, fellow candidate “Peter Biancamano introduced what is called a “live item” — a new resolution that had not been reviewed by committee. This resolution called for the board to stop its HoLa litigation.”
“The introduction of a live item, and calling the vote, was unprecedented and the board’s attorney was asked to explain procedure,” said Angley. “He said, ‘Quite frankly, lobbing a motion like this on the floor involving active litigation would hamper, I think, the board’s ability to have a public discussion about a motion like this.’”
She added that it is because of this that she voted no.
“It is against my principles to go against proper board procedure, and I certainly did not appreciate the lack of respect shown by fellow board members. And so I voted no,” said Angley. “Had I been given the opportunity and time to discuss and consider this proposal and prepare my remarks, I may have voted the way I did in April 2015,” in which she voted against a resolution supporting board counsel’s continuing to fight the state on the matter.
“As I have mentioned, I am a team player who is committed to enhancing education in Hoboken and have contributed positively to the board over the last three years,” added Angley. “I am proud of the education my children are receiving through the district. And that is why I want to give back. I hope to continue to serve our district diligently, make informed decisions for all Hoboken’s students, and work respectfully with the board and the administration to empower our schools to be the best they can be.”

Author Jillian Pransky will read at Little City Books on Oct. 11

Jillian Pransky is a local hero among the city’s yoga devotees. On Oct. 11, Little City Books, at First and Bloomfield Streets, will host the launch of her new book, “Deep Listening.”
Beginning at 7 p.m., Pransky will read from her new work and engage in conversation with Carol Massar, Bloomberg Radio/TV anchor.
Pransky’s work focuses on restorative practice, rest, healing, and meditation. Her personal story of healing through rest has been found inspiring by readers.
You can pre-order the book to reserve a place in the audience at littlecitybooks.com .

Western Twelfth Street closed in Hoboken for construction

For about the next three weeks Twelfth Street between Madison and Jefferson Streets will be closed to traffic due to construction related to the PSE&G Madison Street Substation Project.
The substation project is a multi-million dollar capital improvement plan that will upgrade the station to make it more reliable and resilient in severe weather.
In order to provide access to properties on Jefferson Street south of Twelfth Street, the block of Twelfth Street between Adams Street and Jefferson Street will be temporarily reversed from eastbound to westbound during the street closure.
Once this portion of the project is complete, the roadway will be reopened, and traffic will revert to the normal eastbound direction.

Prominent Properties Sotheby’s hosts food drive

Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty will host their Fifth Annual Food Drive on is hosting their 5th Annual Food Drive from now until Nov. 30.
Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty will continue to partner with Move For Hunger, a national non-profit organization to collect non-perishable food items throughout their northern New Jersey locations.
At the end of the drive, the food will be picked-up and delivered by Ridgewood Moving Services to the Center for Food Action in Ridgewood. All Seasons Movers, Inc. and Main Street Movers will pick-up and deliver donations to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside.
Residents can donate at 306 Washington St. in Hoboken. Other locations are in Alpine, Edgwater, Englewood Cliffs, Franklin Lakes, Montclaire, Ridgewood, Saddle River, Short Hills, Tenafly, and Westfield. For more information contact your local Prominent Properties Soethby’s office.

Hurricane relief benefit performance announced

Karen Nason, local businesswoman and mayoral candidate, will host a fundraiser for a hurricane relief fund via globalgiving.org.
She is sponsoring “Merciful Delusions,” four one act plays by Tennessee Williams directed by Tony Award nominee Lorraine Serabian at the Mile Square Theater.
The performances will take place on Friday Oct. 13 and Saturday Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. and Sunday Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.
Tickets cost $40 and all proceeds will go to hurricane relief efforts.
The evenings include food, wine, desserts and coffee.
Tickets can be purchased at https://tinyurl.com/hurricanefund.

Learn about land conflict in Liberia

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, the Hoboken Historical Museum at 1301 Hudson St. will host the Black Maria Film Festival screening of the documentary “The Land Beneath Our Feet,” by Sarita Siegel and Gregg Mittman, a film spanning a four-year investigation into history, memory, and present-day land conflicts in Liberia.
Black Maria Executive Director Jane Steuerwald will host the custom-curated program, and a discussion with the audience. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the films will screen at 7 pm. Admission is a suggested $5 donation, which includes light refreshments.

Hudson Theater Works performs ‘MacBeth’

From Oct. 12 to Oct 29 Hudson Theater Works will have performances Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at the Woodrow Wilson School at 80 Hauxhurst Ave in Weehawken.
All tickets are $20 and can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com or 1-800-836-3008.
There are discount tickets of $15 for seniors, veterans, Weehawken residents (with ID), and groups of 10 or more.

Local author to present new thriller at Little City Books

Internationally bestselling author, Polis Books founder, and Hoboken resident Jason Pinter will present his new novel “The Castle” on Oct. 17 at Little City Books, 100 Bloomfield Street, at 7 p.m.
“The Castle” is a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller about Remy Stanton, who gets recruited into the presidential campaign of a controversial billionaire, only to uncover shocking secrets that could jeopardize everyone he cares about.
Pinter will read from the novel, take questions, and sign copies. He will also offer a free specialty cocktail called “The Candidate” to all attendees.
For more information, on the book and author look at our Aug. 6 article “A book publisher, author, and new Hudson County resident,” www.LittleCityBooks.com or www.JasonPinter.com .

House tour announced

The Hoboken Historical Museum will host their annual Hoboken House Tour on Sunday Oct.22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The fundraiser for the museum will include a mix of Victorian brownstones and brand new condos plus a few bonus historic sites.
Locations are kept secret until the day of the tour, but each year’s tour offers a fresh selection of homes with features that will appeal to fans of traditional, modern or eclectic décor.
Points of interest on the tour include two 100-plus-year-old houses of worship, and two monuments to WWI soldiers.
The self guided tours take two to three hours on foot and a map will be included in participant’s tour booklet the day of the tour.
They can be picked up from one of two starting points, either The Hoboken Historical Museum at 1301 Hudson St., or the Fire Department Museum at 213 Bloomfield St.
Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 the day of the tour. A limited number of VIP tickets are also for sale at $125, which includes an additional three tour homes and brunch at specially selected restaurants along the route.
Advance tickets are available online at www.eventbrite.com or from a link on the Museum’s website, www.hobokenmuseum.org.

Commuters urged to use mass transit
The Port Authority has urged drivers who typically use the Holland Tunnel to take mass transit during rush hours while repairs continue on the nearby Route 139 ramp in Jersey City.
According to a Nixle alert from the city of Hoboken a fire last week compromised some of the ramp’s steel supports.
Agency officials are working on traffic management plans to lessen potential congestion impacts and will coordinate implementation with counterparts at NJ DOT, NJ Transit, New Jersey State Police, Jersey City, Hoboken and Manhattan, New York City officials, as well as New York Waterways ferry service.
It is not yet known when construction will be completed.

WEEHAWKEN BRIEFS

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Hudson Bike Share installs eight new bike stations

Hudson Bike Share and Port Imperial have announced they will collaborate to provide bike sharing service, further improving the transportation options available to Port Imperial residents and the public.
Port Imperial will get eight bike stations, stretching along their Hudson River waterfront of Weehawken, West New York, and Guttenberg and expected to be completed by year end, connecting with 57 other stations throughout Hoboken, Bayonne, North Bergen, Weehawken, West New York, and Guttenberg.
In addition to Hudson Bike Share, Port Imperial provides a Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit Station, New Jersey Transit Bus service, New York Waterway ferry terminal and internal PIPOA shuttle bus transportation.
“Providing alternative means of transportation so that we can further support folks going to work or just taking a ride along the Gold Coast of N.J., is a true public private partnership,” said James F. Murphy, vice president of business development, and community relations for P3 Global Management.
Hudson Bike Share, a P3GM project, currently has over 20,000 members and provides for over 300,000 rides in its first two years of serving Hudson County.
Riders can use a smart phone or key card to unlock bicycles at any of the stations in the system. Once rented, the user will be given a code to unlock the bike, and begin their 30 or 45-minute ride. A highlight of the Hudson Bike Share system is the ability to park the bikes temporarily, as well as the ability for users to end their trip at a station that is already full. This feature, which is lacking in prior-generation bike sharing models, allows users to make stops mid-trip and eliminates the frustration of arriving at an already full station.
Hudson Bike Share is currently sponsored by Suez Water, Carepoint Health, Investors Bank, and Keller Williams Realty. To sign up for Hudson Bike Share visit HudsonBikeShare.com or download the NextBike app on your phone.

Registration for Baby & Me and Story Time sessions begins Jan. 18

The Weehawken Free Public Library will begin registration for the second session of the popular Baby & Me and Story Time classes. Residents can register either in person or by calling the library at (201) 863-7823 beginning promptly at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18. This program is open to Weehawken residents only; proof of residency and the child’s birth certificate or passport is also required. Residents choosing to register over the phone must bring their documents to the first class.
Four different programs are being offered by the Library for Weehawken children between 6 months to 3 years of age.
The Baby & Me program classes, which run from January through March, are designed to encourage socialization and early learning skills. Classes are limited to 15 participants. Two classes are offered: Baby & Me Junior, ages 6 to 18 months, on Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; and Baby & Me Senior, ages 19 to 24 months, on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
The Story Time Tuesday’s program classes, which run from January through March, encourage creativity, socialization, early learning skills, along with the value of independent as well as together time. Classes are limited to 15 participants. Two classes are offered: Story Time Tuesday AM, ages 2 to 3 years, at 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; and Story Time Tuesday PM, ages 2 to 3 years, at 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. For more information please contact the library at (201) 863-7823 and ask for the 2nd floor Circulation Desk.

Gateway tunnel funding approved

The governors of New York and New Jersey came to an agreement that would pave the way for each state to pay its share of the proposed Gateway Tunnel.
This would follow guidelines originally set in 2015 which would have the federal government pay for 50 percent of the costs. New York will contribute $1.75 billion, NJ Transit $1.9 billion, and Port Authority, 1.9 billion towards the project.
This is considered an important next step in the construction of the Hudson River Tunnel Project which will run near Hoboken, Weehawken and North Bergen to eventually access Secaucus Junction rail terminal.
The $12.7 billion Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project will construct a new two track tunnel and eventually rehabilitate the existing Amtrak North River Tunnel which suffered significant damage during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

PSE&G to inspect gas meters in Hudson County

Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) will be inspecting natural gas meters in Hoboken, Weehawken and West New York to ensure the continued safety and reliability of gas services. Customers should make sure the inspector displays proper ID, so as not to fall victim to scams.
“Customer safety is our number one priority,” said Joe Forline, vice president of gas operations for PSE&G. “It’s important for us to conduct safety inspections like these so that we can check for surface corrosion, leaks and other conditions that might require attention or repair.”
If a customer’s meter is inside, someone over the age of 18 will need to give our technicians access to the meter for a visual inspection. Meters that are located outside will also be inspected. Although technicians will be on your property, customers do not need to be home for outside meter inspections.
Important information about the inspection process:
• The inspection is free and will take about 10 minutes.
• Customers do not need to make an appointment at this time.
• Unless a meter requires immediate repair, there will be no interruption to service.
• Service will not be turned off during this inspection due to billing status.
PSE&G reminds customers to always ask for identification when a utility worker comes to the door. Employees carry a PSE&G photo identification badge, wear PSE&G logo apparel and drive PSE&G cars or trucks. If a customer is concerned in any way, they should call PSE&G’s customer service line at 800-436-PSEG (7734) to verify the identity of an employee.

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, Jan. 9 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.

Bayonne Briefs

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Bayonne Briefs

Bayonne firefighter placed on paid suspension after alleged racist social media posts

A Bayonne firefighter, Keith Castaldo, was suspended with pay after he allegedly posted racially disparaging images and comments about people of color on his Facebook page. The account has since been deleted. Castaldo told the Jersey Journal that his account was hacked, and those posts are not genuine. The Bayonne Fire Department is investigating the matter, according to Bayonne Fire Chief Keith Weaver.
“I got a warning from Facebook a while back that something was going wrong and that I had to deactivate,” Castaldo told the Jersey Journal.“None of that stuff was mine. I don’t know what to tell ya. … That’s just not me.”

Mark Smith lands job at Hudson County Sheriff’s Office

Former Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith was hired as the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office’s first fulltime director of homeland security. Smith, who will work out of the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City, willbe in charge of coordinating with homeland security offices at the county, state, and federal levels, including with the FBI and New Jersey State Police. Smith, a former police officer, served as police director under former Bayonne Mayor Joseph Doria.

More MOTBY groundbreakings

City officials and developers broke ground on two projects at the former Military Ocean Terminal Base (MOTBY), a two-square mile blank canvas for developers. Costco, a publicly-traded, Seattle-based membership-only warehouse club, plans to build its warehouse and a gas station on the west side of Route 440 and across from the fire station on Chosin Few Way.
The other groundbreaking ceremony celebrated one of Costco’s neighboring residential developments, a 525-unit townhouse project developed by Atlantic Realty.

The Staten Island Development Corporation has secured more than $200,000

When the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) unveiled the winner of its international design contest in September of 2016 – a conceptualaerial gondola that would take commuters from Elm Park in Staten Island to Bayonne – residents found the idea intriguing. But like mostunrealized ideas, it was initially considered unrealistic. Over a year and a half after the SIEDC has secured more than $200,000 from multiple organizations and municipalities to fund a feasibility study to gauge demand for such a service. Mayor James Davis said that Bayonne contributed $10,000.
The gondola, which would transport 4,000 people per hour over the Kill Van Kull at peak time, would have to be a private venture and would cost more than $60 million, a fraction of the cost of extending the light rail over the Bayonne Bridge.

Search called off for man who jumped off a cruise ship

A 24-year-old man jumped off the Anthem of the Seas cruise ship 65 miles off the coast of Virginia as it was making its way back to Bayonne on Friday, April 13, setting off a 24-hour search that was called off on Saturday morning, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The ship was returning to Cape Liberty Cruise Port from the Bahamas. The Coast Guard said that the man is very unlikely to be alive, considering the water’s cold temperatures, the distance from the shore, and the unfruitful efforts of the search, which used a helicopter, an airplane and cutter boats and assistance from the U.S. Navy.

NJ Legislature passes bill requiring all residents to have health insurance

Both houses of the Legislature passed a bill last week that would require New Jersey residents to have health insurance. Any individuals who do not maintain health insurance would face a financial penalty at tax time. The requirement is similar to the Obamacare “individual mandate,” which was ended by the federal tax overhaul that was passed by Congress and signed by President Trump. New Jersey would be the first state to enact such legislation.

Union City teacher who fled Egypt faces deportation

A physics teacher who works at an Islamic school in Union City is being held at a detention center in Elizabeth and facing deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to WNYC Radio. The teacher, Ahmed Abdelbasit Mohammad, was a physics professor at the University of Cairo when he fled Egypt in 2014. He came to the United States in 2016 and applied for asylum, but his application was denied, and he was detained earlier this month. His students have created a website to support their teacher, who said he will be killed if returned to Egypt.

Santini’s lawyer says his client may take legal action against Housing Authority

Former North Bergen Housing Authority (NBHA) Director of Security Geoffrey Santini is mulling legal action against the agency for terminating him on March 28, according to his lawyer.
The NBHA fired Santini last month after it performed an investigation into an NBC News investigative report alleging he barely showed at his full-time position, and misused an Authority SUV for his animal business and other personal uses.
“He’s innocent of any wrongdoing,” said attorney Louis Zayas. “We believe that the determination was entirely unlawful and illegal.” Zayas also claimed that Santini never received an opportunity to defend himself against the allegations. Unless the Housing Authority rescinds the termination, they intend to take legal action, Zayas said.

NJ considering rebates for electric cars

State Sen. Bob Smith of Piscataway is proposing that the state spend $100 million a year for three years to encourage New Jersey drivers to switch to electric vehicles, according to WHYY Radio. The bill authored by Smith, a Democrat, provides rebates for people who buy electric vehicles, but it does not say how much the individual rebates would be. Smith has suggested that $1,000 or $2,000 would probably be a good incentive for car buyers.
Coming hard on the heels of the EPA’s announcement that it would relax fuel-economy standards for cars and light trucks, Gov. Phil Murphy announced last week that NJ would join a multistate initiative whose goal is to get more zero-emission vehicles on the road. The eight-state compact wants to see more than 3 million EVs zipping along by 2025, according to NJ Spotlight.

New Jersey Audubon to celebrate 35 years of the ‘World Series of Birding’

Anyone involved in the “World Series of Birding” agrees: It’s an exhilarating way to spend 24 hours. At the stroke of midnight, participants begin an all-night, all-day journey to see or hear as many bird species as possible within the 8,732 square miles of New Jersey.
This treasure hunt of sorts, which serves as a key fundraiser for New Jersey Audubon, happens every year, this year on May 12, rain or shine. That’s when the last of the wintering birds are still here, and when new migrating and breeding birds arrive.
The World Series of Birding is open to anyone, at any age or skill level. Participants can join contest categories that would prompt them to travel up to 300 miles around the state in 24 hours.
Or, for a completely different experience, participants can join categories in which they are restricted to a county, or even within a 17-foot circle. You can be part of a car full of fellow birders, out on your own, or with others on bikes, on foot or by boat.
There are obvious and non-bending rules. For example, only birds found in New Jersey can be counted.
Great local spots are the Cape May Bird Observatory, Cape May Point State Park, or the NJ Audubon Hoffman Sanctuary in Bernardsville, or Sandy Hook. There is also a separate competition for children, from grades 1-5, grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. For a full list of competitions, and for further information, visit http://worldseriesofbirding.org/.

U.S. House of Representatives passes bill in response to Hoboken crash

A bill intended to make it easier to uncover safety problems on trains was approved by the U.S. House, according to The Record. The measure, which was introduced by Rep. Josh Gottheimer in response to the 2016 fatal train crash in Hoboken, is the first piece of legislation by the Wyckoff Democrat to clear the chamber. The bill would require better reporting of data to track safety problems.

Hudson County launches online ‘Homeless Services Navigator’

Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise announced that the Hudson County Division of Housing and Community Development has gone live with a new “Homeless Services Navigator” page on the county website, www.hudsoncountynj.org. The new page may found at this link: http://hudsoncountyhomeless.com.
Residents experiencing or faced with the prospect of homelessness or their friends and families can, with a mobile device, choose “Homeless Services Navigator” from the county’s mobile homepage “Quicklinks,” to see the link to the Homelessness Services Navigator. The same one-click process is available from a desktop computer.
The Homeless Services Navigator offers a wide range of services, including an explanation of how to connect with homeless shelters, and an explanation of eligibility for services. A “Services” tab then provides a list of services with full contact information (phone and email) available for those facing homelessness. It’s provided by the Hudson County Alliance to End Homelessness and lists in alphabetical where these services are in relation to the person’s current location. A map helps them “navigate” their way to help.
The list of services can be narrowed with an editable checklist with categories like “Domestic Violence Services” or “Emergency Food Assistance” to reduce scrolling. The “Services” page also allows a user to narrow the search by age for, say, appropriate services for teens rather than seniors.
Those concerned about homeless policy matters can find the Twitter feed for both the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness on the navigator main page. A “Downloads” section provides .pdf files with homelessness resource guides for all residents, youth and veterans in Spanish and English that can be printed.
Call the Hudson County Division of Housing and Community Development at (201) 369-4520. If you believe an additional resource should be added to Navigator, please email Katelyn Cunningham kcunningham@hcnj.us

WEEHAWKEN BRIEFS

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WEEHAWKEN BRIEFS

Hudson Bike Share installs eight new bike stations

Hudson Bike Share and Port Imperial have announced they will collaborate to provide bike sharing service, further improving the transportation options available to Port Imperial residents and the public.
Port Imperial will get eight bike stations, stretching along their Hudson River waterfront of Weehawken, West New York, and Guttenberg and expected to be completed by year end, connecting with 57 other stations throughout Hoboken, Bayonne, North Bergen, Weehawken, West New York, and Guttenberg.
In addition to Hudson Bike Share, Port Imperial provides a Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit Station, New Jersey Transit Bus service, New York Waterway ferry terminal and internal PIPOA shuttle bus transportation.
“Providing alternative means of transportation so that we can further support folks going to work or just taking a ride along the Gold Coast of N.J., is a true public private partnership,” said James F. Murphy, vice president of business development, and community relations for P3 Global Management.
Hudson Bike Share, a P3GM project, currently has over 20,000 members and provides for over 300,000 rides in its first two years of serving Hudson County.
Riders can use a smart phone or key card to unlock bicycles at any of the stations in the system. Once rented, the user will be given a code to unlock the bike, and begin their 30 or 45-minute ride. A highlight of the Hudson Bike Share system is the ability to park the bikes temporarily, as well as the ability for users to end their trip at a station that is already full. This feature, which is lacking in prior-generation bike sharing models, allows users to make stops mid-trip and eliminates the frustration of arriving at an already full station.
Hudson Bike Share is currently sponsored by Suez Water, Carepoint Health, Investors Bank, and Keller Williams Realty. To sign up for Hudson Bike Share visit HudsonBikeShare.com or download the NextBike app on your phone.

Registration for Baby & Me and Story Time sessions begins Jan. 18

The Weehawken Free Public Library will begin registration for the second session of the popular Baby & Me and Story Time classes. Residents can register either in person or by calling the library at (201) 863-7823 beginning promptly at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18. This program is open to Weehawken residents only; proof of residency and the child’s birth certificate or passport is also required. Residents choosing to register over the phone must bring their documents to the first class.
Four different programs are being offered by the Library for Weehawken children between 6 months to 3 years of age.
The Baby & Me program classes, which run from January through March, are designed to encourage socialization and early learning skills. Classes are limited to 15 participants. Two classes are offered: Baby & Me Junior, ages 6 to 18 months, on Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; and Baby & Me Senior, ages 19 to 24 months, on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
The Story Time Tuesday’s program classes, which run from January through March, encourage creativity, socialization, early learning skills, along with the value of independent as well as together time. Classes are limited to 15 participants. Two classes are offered: Story Time Tuesday AM, ages 2 to 3 years, at 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; and Story Time Tuesday PM, ages 2 to 3 years, at 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. For more information please contact the library at (201) 863-7823 and ask for the 2nd floor Circulation Desk.

Gateway tunnel funding approved

The governors of New York and New Jersey came to an agreement that would pave the way for each state to pay its share of the proposed Gateway Tunnel.
This would follow guidelines originally set in 2015 which would have the federal government pay for 50 percent of the costs. New York will contribute $1.75 billion, NJ Transit $1.9 billion, and Port Authority, 1.9 billion towards the project.
This is considered an important next step in the construction of the Hudson River Tunnel Project which will run near Hoboken, Weehawken and North Bergen to eventually access Secaucus Junction rail terminal.
The $12.7 billion Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project will construct a new two track tunnel and eventually rehabilitate the existing Amtrak North River Tunnel which suffered significant damage during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

PSE&G to inspect gas meters in Hudson County

Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) will be inspecting natural gas meters in Hoboken, Weehawken and West New York to ensure the continued safety and reliability of gas services. Customers should make sure the inspector displays proper ID, so as not to fall victim to scams.
“Customer safety is our number one priority,” said Joe Forline, vice president of gas operations for PSE&G. “It’s important for us to conduct safety inspections like these so that we can check for surface corrosion, leaks and other conditions that might require attention or repair.”
If a customer’s meter is inside, someone over the age of 18 will need to give our technicians access to the meter for a visual inspection. Meters that are located outside will also be inspected. Although technicians will be on your property, customers do not need to be home for outside meter inspections.
Important information about the inspection process:
• The inspection is free and will take about 10 minutes.
• Customers do not need to make an appointment at this time.
• Unless a meter requires immediate repair, there will be no interruption to service.
• Service will not be turned off during this inspection due to billing status.
PSE&G reminds customers to always ask for identification when a utility worker comes to the door. Employees carry a PSE&G photo identification badge, wear PSE&G logo apparel and drive PSE&G cars or trucks. If a customer is concerned in any way, they should call PSE&G’s customer service line at 800-436-PSEG (7734) to verify the identity of an employee.

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, Jan. 9 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.

Bayonne Briefs

Rory Pasquariello, Staff Writer
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Bayonne Briefs

Former payroll clerk arrested for allegedly stealing $34,000 in employee pay

A Lyndhurst man was arrested in February on forgery and theft charges after an investigation by the Bayonne Police Department showed evidence that he allegedly mishandled employee paychecks for a Bayonne book distribution company on Hook Road. The company, Bookazine, filed a complaint with the police department in January after several complaints from employees saying they were owed pay for unused vacation time.

According to Lt. Eric Amato, management at Bookazine filed a complaint with the Bayonne Police Department in January after several employees complained that they had not received paychecks owed to them for unpaid vacation time.

The report continues that a subsequent investigation into the allegations revealed that between June 2016 and June 2018 John M Cribbin, a former payroll clerk at Bookazine, had kept, signed, and deposited more than $34,000 in checks into his own account.

Costco officially opens

Local officials held a ribbon-cutting, and customers flooded the parking lot at the new 148,000-square-foot Costco Wholesale warehouse on Route 440 between Goldsborough Drive and 40th Street on March 7. The project was first announced in November of 2017; the warehouse and gas station were constructed over the course of a year.

NY man attempts scam at banks in Bayonne and Secaucus

A New York man who used a fake ID in an attempt to allegedly withdraw cash from a TD bank in Bayonne was arrested a few days later when he allegedly tried again at a TD bank in Secaucus, according to police.

The 36-year-old Bronx resident was charged with identity theft, possession of and exhibiting a false government document, conspiracy, forgery and credit card theft, according to Secaucus police.

The Secaucus branch was alerted of the fraud attempt and called the police when the man showed up on Feb. 28 allegedly with the fake ID to withdraw $3,000.

Secaucus police seized five fraudulent driver’s licenses and credit cards and $1,522 in cash.

Details on the Bayonne incident were not immediately available.

The man had outstanding warrants in East Rutherford and Weehawken.

Two-alarm fire displaces four people

A two-alarm fire destroyed a three-family home on W. 13th Street on the morning of March 5, displacing four people, according to Bayonne Fire Chief Keith Weaver. At around 7:15 a.m., Bayonne firefighters responded to 86 West 13th Street and found heavy fire and smoke conditions on the top floor of the house. The fire was contained to the furnished attic and placed under control by 8:15 a.m. No injuries were reported; the the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Sex abuse victims push for statute of limitations bill

In New Jersey, there is no statute of limitations for sexual assault cases, which are criminal lawsuits: a victim can file a criminal lawsuit even if decades have passed. A new bill passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee after an emotional hearing on March 7 would also lengthen the statute of limitations in civil lawsuits retroactively, according to The Record. In cases where the victim survived sexual abuse as a child or a teen under age 18, they would have until age 55 to file a civil lawsuit, or up to seven years after realizing (in legalese: “discovery”) that the abuse caused injury. Adult victims would have seven years to file a civil lawsuit. The measure also enacts a two-year window for cases that would “otherwise be time barred.” The next step is a full Senate vote, which could be on March 14.

$89 million in lobbying: hospitals, offshore wind, nuclear

The state Election Law Enforcement Commission announced new lobbying data last week, detailing a field of 922 registered lobbyists working for firms that spent $89.4 million in 2018. (That number doesn’t include ‘shadow lobbying,’ in which it’s not clear who the lobbyist represents). The energy industry spent the most ($5.4 million), followed by hospitals ($3.3 million), the insurance industry ($1.7 million), and legal marijuana issues ($1.4 million). It also details spending by advocacy groups like New Direction New Jersey, a 501(c)(4) at the center of Sen. Pres. Steve Sweeney’s ‘dark money’ bill.

The week before, the NJ Senate passed a ‘dark money’ bill that would require any 501(c)(4) group donating more than $3,000, and individuals contributing more than $10,000, to formally disclose their identities. New Direction New Jersey spent around $500,000 to promote Gov. Phil Murphy’s policy agenda. The legislation is hotly-contested: the ACLU, which supports the bill, has threatened a lawsuit if it does not pass. The bill is now awaiting a vote in the Assembly.

2017 data: 6 million pounds of toxic chemicals in air, water

On March 5, the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled new air and water pollution data. In 2017, nearly six million pounds of toxic chemicals seeped into public space statewide. The biggest polluter was Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery in Linden. The state ranks 12th for its level of toxic releases. Bayonne’s Henry Repeating Arms, in Bergen Point, is the only facility in Bayonne that produces toxic materials. It manages 12,500 pounds of “production-related” waste.

NAMI offers family-to-family educational program

The National Alliance on Mental Illness chapter in Hudson County will offer free classes for families and caregivers of adults living with a mental illness beginning March 20. The program consist of twelve 2-½ hour classes that focus on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, clinical depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

The course will be given by family members of individuals with a mental illness, trained by NAMI as educators of the Family-to-Family Program. Many family members describe this experience as life changing. Thousands of families have gained information, understanding, and support through these programs.

The classes on Wednesday evenings begin March 20 and finish on June 5. Classes are from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Christ Hospital, 176 Palisade Ave., Jersey City. There is free parking at the hospital parking facility. Light snacks will be available.

The program and materials are free but registration is required. To register, contact Martha Silva at 201-861-0614 or email namihudson@msn.com.

Hudson County CASA is seeking volunteers

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer and help foster children find safe and permanent homes. The next information session will be held at Little City Books, 100 Bloomfield St., Hoboken, on Wednesday, March 20 at 7 p.m.

CASA is a nonprofit 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.

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.

Bayonne Briefs

Rory Pasquariello, Staff Writer
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Bayonne Briefs

Correction

In the January 17 issue of the Bayonne Community News, we mistakenly wrote that a redevelopment site on North Street was approved for two towers. The original plan calls for two towers, but only one has been approved so far.

Documentary screening on Bayonne man lynched in Georgia

“Fair Game: Surviving A 1960 Georgia Lynching,” a 65-minute documentary on the life of James Fair, Jr. is premiering in New Jersey on Feb. 3.  In May 1960, the 24-year-old Bayonne navy vet joined a Newark friend on a road trip to his hometown of Blakely, Georgia, where he would face wrongful conviction for rape, and a death sentence. His mother launched a 26-month campaign to save her son’s life.

“Fair Game” will have three screenings; 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4 at Friendship Baptist Church, 41 W 20th St. in Bayonne; 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at the Bayonne Board of Education, and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at New Jersey City University’s School of Business, 200 Hudson St. in Jersey City.

The filmmaker, Clennon L. King, will introduce the documentary, before leading a post-screening discussion and audience Q&A at all three programs.

The filmmaker dedicated the documentary to the 25 known black men who were lynched in Early County, Georgia, second only to Atlanta in the number of lynching deaths statewide. King also dedicates the film to his father, Georgia’s legendary civil rights attorney C.B. King, who tried to prevent James Fair, Jr. from becoming the 25th victim.

The film features interviews with the late U.S. Representative Cornelius E. Gallagher, who, as Fair’s congressman, helped secure a stay of execution from Georgia’s governor; Manhattan-based lawyer and Clinton presidential confidante Vernon Jordan, and law clerk on the Fair case; former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, who served on the faculty at Seton Hall School of Medicine and is from the same Georgia town where Fair’s troubles began.

King spent a week in NJ in June 2017, researching and conducting multiple on-camera interviews, including with Fair’s daughter, Stacey Fair of Bayonne; Friendship Baptist Church of Bayonne pastor H. Gene Sykes, a distant relative; and childhood friends Sam Elder and Margaret Hamiel. The film also features both of Fair’s sisters, Audrey Fair Porte and Diane Fair Odom of Florida, who lived in Bayonne during the ordeal.

Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation receives $1.5 million in federal grants

The Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation received $1,529,894 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for its Head Start program.

The Head Start initiative provides comprehensive child-development programs for low-to-moderate income families. The program has been shown to improve educational outcomes for participating students, including by increasing rates of high school graduation and college attendance.

Feral cat colony behind former A&P relocated

More than two dozen cats that lived behind the former A&P supermarket in Bergen Point were relocated to a new, secret location. The cat colony has been growing since the A&P lot turned vacant in 2016, which is also when the Bayonne City Council started discussing plans to move the colony. Some of the cats are feral, while others are spayed and neutered.

The supermarket structure was demolished last month, clearing the way for a planned residential building. The city is not disclosing the new location of the colony to the public so that residents do not visit, feed, or add to the colony. The colony was created and grew, partly, from residents dropping off unwanted house cats and feeding the existing colony. A caged-in structure to house the cats was ultimately rejected in favor of allowing the cats to roam free.

Scuffle outside skate shop results in teen arrest

A Bayonne teen was arrested on Jan. 11 outside of Classic Skate Shop in an incident that involved two assaults after an argument in a line outside the store, according to the Bayonne Police Department.

A 17-year-old was charged with aggravated assault and simple assault of a 20-year-old man and another teen who came to the man’s defense.

Police said the altercation resulted in three people falling into the front window of the shop and shattering it. The 20-year-old was taken to Bayonne Medical Center to be treated for facial injuries.

Bayonne Fire Department extinguishes crawl-space fire

Bayonne firefighters extinguished a lower-level crawl space fire at 271 Avenue B at around noon Jan. 23, according to Bayonne Fire Chief Keith Weaver. The fire was moving up vertically between the crawl space and the first-floor bathroom area. Firefighters used one hose line to extinguish the fire and prevented further spread of the fire. The fire was placed under control in 15 minutes. No injuries were reported; fire investigators determined the cause to be accidental.

Bayonne man accidentally shot in face with gun

A 30-year-old man accidentally shot a 29-year-old man in the face inside an Avenue B home, according to the Bayonne Police Department. On the evening of Jan. 19., police found the victim with facial wounds, treated him on the scene, and transferred him to Jersey City Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The firearm, a Springfield XD 9-millimeter pistol, was legally registered under the the 30-year-old’s name; he was charged with aggravated assault, according to authorities.

Gun accidentally discharges into neighbor’s apartment

A 39-year-old Bayonne man was charged on Jan. 16 after his gun accidentally discharged, firing a bullet into a neighbor’s apartment on Kennedy Boulevard on Jan. 13, according to the Bayonne Police Department. The man was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun. The gun discharged while being moved from one location of the apartment to another. The gun was not stolen or registered.

Amy DeGise resigns from Jersey City school board

In a move that may be a prelude to her running for mayor of Jersey City in 2021, Amy DeGise announced that she will step down from her position as trustee on the Jersey City Board of Education on Feb. 1 to focus her attention on her role as chair of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, to which she was appointed last June.

The move comes after Chairwoman DeGise and the HCDO delivered a massive turnout in the November election, helping propel U.S. Senator Bob Menendez to victory with an 85,000-vote plurality.

Many believe DeGise’s move will be a prelude to an attempt to unseat Mayor Steven Fulop in the 2021 election.

“My focus will be on developing new ways for Hudson residents to get involved in our party through caucuses and committees, with a goal of harnessing the unprecedented levels of activism and civic engagement we’re seeing into meaningful progressive change,” she said.

Thousands eligible for free community college

This week marks the beginning of the spring semester at many New Jersey colleges. It’s also the first time that about 13,000 students will be eligible to attend tuition- and fee-free, thanks to a pilot of the Community College Opportunity Grant program. Thirteen of the state’s 19 community colleges are participating.

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) is one of 13 community colleges across New Jersey selected to participate in the state’s Community College Innovation Challenge, a pilot program that will distribute $20 million worth of grants, called the New Jersey Community College Opportunity Grant. Thirteen thousand students across the state will be eligible for free tuition beginning in the spring of 2019.

To qualify, students will need to take six credits or more and have a household income of $45,000 or less. In a county with a median household income of about $63,000, the grants may go a long way. Eighty-three percent of HCCC students already receive financial assistance, while the County of Hudson and the HCCC Foundation already provide more than $500,000 in scholarships each year.

The cost of tuition for a full-time student living in Hudson County taking 12 credits is $1,704 before fees. An associate’s degree, the highest degree offered at the college, requires 60 credits.

Jersey shore residents fret over new rental tax

Many rentals along the Jersey Shore are locked up in January, but this year, some homeowners worry that tourists will take their dollars elsewhere. The issue: a new 11.625 percent rental tax. Thirty-nine states collect short-term rental taxes, according to a 2018 National Conference of State Legislatures’ report, according to the Associated Press.

Murphy pushes for $2.1 billion AirTrain replacement

Gov. Phil Murphy has called for Port Authority’s board to approve a $2.1 billion project: replacing the AirTrain at Newark Airport. Patching it up would cost $400 million. In 2017, the board approved a capital plan for the next 10 years; the AirTrain is on it.

Lawmakers outline how to improve maternal care

In a recent joint Assembly meeting, lawmakers approved several maternal health bills, including doula care, patient-safety bundles, maternity-care data, a maternity health campaign, “respectful” birth standards, care for between pregnancies, perinatal-care curriculum for community health workers, the “My Life, My Plan” program, and the Listening to Mothers Survey Act, according to NJ Spotlight.

Murphy announces new plan to combat opioid crisis

At Cooper University Medical Center, Gov. Phil Murphy recently unveiled a new plan to spend the state’s $100 million investment to fight the opioid crisis.

Effective immediately, opioid use disorder will be covered as an eligible condition under the state’s medical marijuana program. Beginning April 1, Medicaid recipients will no longer need to secure a prior authorization for medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Through the Office Based Addiction Treatment program, doctors will receive Medicaid reimbursement incentives to administer MAT. Four million dollars will support two new Centers of Excellence for opioid treatment: Cooper Medical School in Camden, and Rutgers Medical School in Newark. The state will improve and expand its syringe access programs and devote $3.9 million to a new pathway to recovery program.

Public health advocates have been calling on state government to take more action as 3,163 overdose deaths in 2018 broke states records.

The state reported in January that drug overdose deaths passed the 3,000 mark in 2018. At 3,163, it’s higher than it’s ever been, and 15 percent more than in 2017. The counties that experienced the worst (highest) rate of growth: Salem (60%, 32 deaths); Passaic (54%, 206 deaths); Cumberland (49%, 113 deaths); Mercer (40%, 148 deaths); and Monmouth (30%, 223 deaths). Hudson County had 187 suspected overdose deaths, its highest since recording 127 in 2016.

The newest data on opioids in the state is a mixed bag, according to NJ Spotlight. On one hand, the number of legal opioid prescriptions issued in 2017 in New Jersey has gone down since 2016, but the number of overdose deaths has continued to climb. In 2016, an average of six people died every day from overdoses, but that number climbed to eight people per day in 2017.

 

HOBOKEN BRIEFS

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HOBOKEN BRIEFS

Hoboken Housing Authority Commissioner resigns

According to council documents, Dana Wefer of the Hoboken Housing Authority’s board of commissioners is resigning from her post.
“This letter is to inform you that I am resigning from my position as a commissioner of the Hoboken Housing Authority (HHA) because my family is planning to move from Hoboken in the near future,” Wefer said in an email to Council President Jen Giattino.
The seven-member board of commissioners oversees 1,353 units of low-income and senior citizen public housing on the west side of Hoboken. The HHA is partly funded by subsidies from the federal department of Housing and Urban Development.
“I will continue serving until the next Housing Authority meeting on July 13, but I think the interests of the housing authority would be best served if a new commissioner were appointed to begin their service at this meeting,” she wrote.
Wefer was appointed to the board in 2014 by the Hoboken City Council. Her five-year term is not due to expire until May of 2018.
“You may know that the HHA is already short one board member because the DCA [Department of Community Affairs] has not yet appointed someone to take the place of former commissioner Judith Burrell. As such, it is vital that my seat be filled expeditiously to ensure that the HHA board is able to continue the work it is doing to lift the authority out of troubled status and improve housing for its residents.”
In an interview, Wefer said that she and her family have decided to move because they live in a one-bedroom apartment with a toddler and can’t afford a two bedroom in Hoboken.
According to Wefer they haven’t decided where to move yet but are looking in both Bergen and Essex counties.
Wefer said she is most proud of the board’s hire of HHA’s Executive Director Marc Recko.
“I think bringing Marc Recko on as executive director is everything,” said Wefer. “He is so knowledgeable and transparent. … He has worked closely with the board, and he has over 30 years of experience. He is what the residents of the Hoboken Housing Authority deserve.”
Wefer, a 10-year Hoboken resident, said she will miss the residents and the connections she has made.
To her replacement she said, “My advice is to remember that your duty is to the Hoboken Housing Authority and its residents. You are charged with its oversight, and you can’t be afraid to ask tough questions.”
“Just don’t make it political,” Wefer added, explaining that her replacement should not lose sight of the people they will be helping.
To the council which will appoint Wefer’s replacement based on applications they have on file and will receive from residents, she said, “I hope they select someone with a finance background, as we don’t have anyone with those skills to ask those questions.”
“The process is that, once we get word that she is vacating her seat, we usually determine exactly what date the seat will be open; look at the current roster of applicants at the City Clerk’s office, and pick among them; or if none of the current applicants are satisfactory, we try to recruit residents to apply for the position, so we can appoint a good and qualified person to the position,” said Councilman Ravi Bhalla in an interview in March about the process.
The City Clerk keeps the applications for two years.
Applications can be found at the City Clerk’s office and online. Any Hoboken resident can apply.
To download an application to serve on any of Hoboken’s municipal boards go to http://hobokennj.gov/boards/.
Giattino thanked Wefer for her service and asked that all applications be in the week prior to the next council meeting when they should appoint her replacement.

Councilman urges NJ Transit to accommodate residents during anticipated overcrowding

Last week, Councilman Ravi Bhalla called on NJ Transit to provide Hoboken bus and rail commuters with the option of using their tickets on the new ferry service from Hoboken to 39th Street as a way of combating the overcrowding anticipated this summer due to service changes resulting from scheduled repairs. As reported in May, NJ Transit announced an adjusted travel plan for commuters to and from Penn Station as Amtrak will be repairing tracks from July 10 to Sept. 1.
Riders of the Midtown Direct trains on the Morristown Line will be diverted to Hoboken as will the Midtown Direct trains on the Gladstone Branch.
According to the notice, “NJ Transit rail customers have been forced to deal with delays, derailments, and unreliable service because Amtrak, which owns the tracks our service relies upon, has neglected the maintenance of its critical infrastructure for years. For three-quarters of NJ TRANSIT rail customers travel patterns will not be modified, including the Trenton to New York Northeast Corridor Line. However, delays on all rail lines, except for the Atlantic City Rail line, are inevitable.”
Those commuters on that line will have their tickets cross honored with both the PATH and ferry services.
An additional 7,400 commuters, according to NJ Transit’s estimate, will be diverted to Hoboken beginning on July 10.
Bhalla noted the cross-honoring option to access ferry service is being made available to the diverted commuters, but as of now not to Hoboken ones.
In the press release Bhalla said, “The least Hoboken commuters deserve for the inconvenience and additional over-crowding they will experience this summer is the same cross-honoring options as other commuters. I call on NJ Transit to provide this needed flexibility and consideration.”
“NJ Transit is modestly increasing bus and rail service in Hoboken during the morning rush over the summer. But the increase fails to match the scale of the over-crowding problem,” states the release.
“This will not be a normal commute for any of us including our customers, so we ask that you stay connected to social media and our web page for the latest information, stay ahead by building in extra time for your commute, and stay cool and try not to lose patience,” said NJ Transit Executive Director Steve Santoro in a press release. “On Monday, our customer service ambassadors will be out in force, so if you have questions or need directions, just look for them in their bright yellow vests.”
NJ Transit will enhance peak period bus service and NY Waterway will operate a special ferry service from Hoboken Terminal to W 39th street in Midtown Manhattan during peak hours to combat the influx of passengers at the terminal. For more information go to njtransit.com

‘Proud Republican’ Hoboken resident announces campaign for City Council

Joshua Einstein announced via a press release his campaign launch this weekend.
“This is an opportunity for the Hoboken community to come, listen, and dialogue about the challenges and opportunities our city faces as well as to support a terrific local non-profit [True Mentors],” said Einstein in the release.
Einstein is the first City Council candidate not part of a slate to declare his candidacy and “the only registered Republican in the race to loudly and proudly embrace the GOP label,” according to the release.
He also said he voted for DonaldTrump for president. The comments were likely inspired by mayoral candidates Jen Giattino and Angelo Valente, who refused to comment thus far on their registered Republican status and whether they voted for Trump. Outgoing Mayor Dawn Zimmer has expressed displeasure with Trump’s agenda and how it could affect local residents, and Trump’s Tweets last week were seen by some as unpresidential, misogynistic, and hostile, resulting in the right-leaning National Review writing that he was “intellectually and emotionally incapable” of the job.
Einstein was recently elected to be one of Hudson Counties representatives to the New Jersey Republican State Committee, garnering over 1,300 votes.
“I’m a proud Republican and I have many liberal friends who also understand the fiscal road our city is on, the stagnant policies that continue by inertia, and ignoring the needs of the majority of people in Hoboken is the wrong path to go down,” Einstein said in the release. “That’s why I’m happy to invite everyone to come and discuss the issues they believe are facing our city and areas that they see need change. I know no two people are ever going to see eye to eye on every topic and I don’t expect every voter to agree with every policy stance I have taken, but I always enjoy exchanging out of the box ideas, learning new perspectives, and brainstorming solutions.”
The campaign launch slated for this week was to raise money for True Mentors group that mentors children in Hoboken.
“Leadership is not about being frozen into arcane dogmatic positions or forced into narrow political tribes and teams, it’s about exposing people to new ideas and ways of tackling problems to improve lives and that’s why I wanted a representative of True Mentors to speak about the amazing and unique work they do with Hoboken’s children,” said Einstein in the release.

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, July 11 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.

Former Hoboken director Michael Coleman dies age 85

Former director in Hoboken of the Federal Model Cities Program Michael Coleman passed away on June 16 at age 85.
Coleman died at the VA hospital in East Orange. He had served in the Air Force in Korea.
In 1965 Coleman worked for the US Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce in civil rights compliance before he came to Hoboken in 1968 where he served as executive director of the Model Cities Program.
The program was an effort of the Johnson Administration for urban renewal of inner cities.
For eight years he was instrumental in starting the revitalization of Hoboken that continues today.
Coleman is survived by his children and extended family.

Attention veterans!

The Hoboken American Legion Post 107 will host a BBQ for all Veterans on Sunday July 16 between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. The free BBQ for veterans will take place at Post 107 at 308 Second St.

Polka Dot to perform at Family Fun Night

It’s a family fun night like no other – “Hoboken born” kids’ and family entertainer Ron Albanese – Polka Dot – will be performing with his Polka Dot Pals band at Shipyard Park on July 11 at 7 p.m.
Shipyard Park is located at Thirteenth Street and McFeeley Drive.
“It’s the kiddie rock n’ roll event of the summer,” Ron says, “we’ve got the staging, tunes, and more – everyone is invited to come sing, dance, and laugh along!”
The free concert is part of the summer long “Family Fun Night” series hosted every Tuesday by the City of Hoboken and co sponsored by The Applied Companies.
For more on Ron Albanese go to www.RonAlbanese.com.
For more on the series go to http://hobokennj.gov/departments/human-services/cultural-affairs/family/.

Bijou Properties’ western edge development is expected to open in 2019

Development partners Bijou Properties and Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation broke ground on their 424 unit luxury rental building which includes a 6,835 square foot public gymnasium and a two acre resiliency park as part of Hoboken’s western edge redevelopment.
The development is part of a 30 year PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement between the developer and the city established last year.
Located at 700 Jackson St., the new 14-story mixed-use rental building, designed by Marchetto Higgins Stieve Architects, will include 90,000 square feet of upscale amenities, including a penthouse pool and roof deck, and 25,000 square-feet of ground floor retail space.
The adjacent two-acre park will be split between a one-acre open grass area and children’s playground and a one-acre public plaza designed for active and passive recreation uses.
Construction is expected to be completed in mid-2019.
“We’re invested in the future of Hoboken and are committed to working with the City to develop sustainable housing that significantly contributes to the community-at-large,” said Larry Bijou, managing partner of Hoboken-based Bijou Properties. “This new building and open space donation fits perfectly into that philosophy.”

Hoboken Farms donates to Community FoodBank of New Jersey

Hoboken Farms and Banza donated about 7,100 pounds of sauce and 6,300 pounds of pasta, respectively, totaling approximately 50,000 servings for people in need across the state to the Community Foodbank of New Jersey in Hillside.
More than 1 million New Jersey residents struggle with hunger, and close to 340,000 of them are children. The FoodBank addresses the need by getting healthy food onto the tables of food insecure families, possible with support from generous donors like Hoboken Farms and Banza. This food reaches men, women and children through the FoodBank’s network of more than 1,000 community partners, including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and school programs.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Hoboken Farms and Banza,” said Debra Vizzi, president and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “They exemplify companies that are local and grassroots, and they both have the health of our neighbors in mind with their products. Their sense of social responsibility to New Jersey and to the hungry make them a ‘best of class’ in this space.”
“This large donation of our healthy sauce is the perfect way to celebrate Hoboken Farms’ 25th farmers market season,” said Brad Finkel, founder of Hoboken Farms. “As a proud local brand, we’re excited to share almost 5,000 donated jars of our beloved sauce with FoodBank families.”
The FoodBank will provide tastings of this nutritious duo for community partners picking up food from the Hillside warehouse (31 Evans Terminal) on Monday, July 10, at 1:30 p.m.
The purpose of the samplings is to introduce representatives from local soup kitchens, food pantries, and other agencies to this healthy combination and, in turn, have them encourage their clients to serve it to their families.

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