Following three regional tour dates, Audio Insight lead singer/guitarist and Bayonne native Anthony Celi returned to his roots on Friday, April 6th, to play alongside fellow Hudson County rockers Artic Flame (Pure Steel Records) at McFaddenn’s Pub, 17 East 21 St, Bayonne, N.J.

The Garden State music festival, celebrating its 10^th anniversary, also features headliners Blink 182 and Foo Fighters and will be the band’s second appearance in as many years

 (Bayonne, N.J.)— Mike Deverin (bass), Dan Sullivan (drums and percussion) and Bayonne native Anthony Celi (lead guitar and vocals) are Audio Insight.

 Considered among the top unsigned acts in the tri-state area, though the rock trio credits Woodbridge as the Audio Insight’s birthplace, Celi always credits Bayonne as his hometown.

 “I lived in Bayonne from the time I was a toddler until about fifth grade,” Celi recalls. “I grew up moving all over that town; the overwhelming majority of my family still there. It’s just one of those towns where everybody knows your name.”

 Though Celi moved to Woodbridge before his middle school years, he’s always returned to his roots to spend time with family. In between semesters at Montclair State University, where Celi is a sophomore, last summer Audio Insight’s leader singer and guitarist spent his weekdays back Bayonne working at IMTT.

 This summer, Celi and his band will find themselves gracing the stage at the 2012 Bamboozle Music Festival alongside Garden State rock legends Bon Jovi, as well as additional headliners Foo Fighters and Blink 182. The appearance is Audio Insight’s second in as many years.

 This year’s Bamboozle Music Festival will serve as a three-day-long, oceanfront celebration of the event’s 10 year history, all taking place on Asbury Park’s North Beach from May 18-20. In all, seven stages will showcase the festival’s headliners and supporting acts that include The All American Rejects, Brand New, Jimmy Eat World, Incubus, Mac Miller and Skrillex among others.

 “Last year we were pretty excited to be added to such a big festival,” Celi says. “When you’re up there on stage at Bamboozle and just look around, there are thousands of people there. It was pretty awesome and I can’t even imagine what it will be like to be a part such an important anniversary. One thing I know for sure is that after everything we’ve done since our appearance last year, our band deserved to be at Bamboozle 2012. ”

 From bookend to bookend, Celi and the band’s journey from festival newcomer in 2011, to a returning act in 2012, has been a wild ride.

 Following three regional tour dates, on Sunday, April 1st, the progressive rock/post-hardcore trio returned home to the Garden State and rocked The Stone Pony in Asbury Park as a handpicked-participant of The Break Invitational. After an announcement appeared on the showcase’s website the following evening, Audio Insight learned they were among the event’s winners and were added to the 2012 Bamboozle Music Festival’s lineup.

 “The 24 hours we spent waiting to find out if we’d made it or not were quite nerve racking,” Deverin, the band’s bassist and Celi’s college roommate shares. “We stayed after our set on Sunday to watch and support all of the other acts. Then on Monday, we sat glued to our laptops and phones, consistently refreshing screens until the results were finally posted. Needless to say, 6 p.m. on Monday, April 2 was one of the best moments of our lives.”

 Audio Insight’s set, which included several songs off their debut album Dimensions, as well as a new track that remains untitled, didn’t disappoint.

 ”The band gave a great performance and it’s our pleasure to have them play the ten year anniversary of Bamboozle,” David Smith, Marketing Manager of The Break Contest and Vice President of LincStar Artist Development, says. “We look forward to seeing their improved progress and development in the years to come.”

 Celi agrees.

 “We played the music that best represents what we’re trying to accomplish as a band,” he adds. “Audio Insight blurrs the boundary between the genres of progressive metal and post-hardcore music and that’s what we portrayed at The Break Invitational. We played with nothing but passion and did our best to leave it all on the stage; they liked us last year and apparently they loved us this year.”

 Sponsored by LincStar, Live Nation, The Aquarian Weekly and Madison Marquette, The Break Invitational showcased a select collection of the area’s top unsigned acts and unlike The Break Contest, a several month-long battle of the bands consisting of hundreds of bands competing across the tri-state area, The Break Invitational was a one-night-only event. In all, 10 bands competed for several open spots on the lineup for Bamboozle 2012.

 “It’s very rewarding to know you’re considered among the best in the state, especially by people like the team behind The Break Contest and Bamboozle,” Sullivan, the band’s drummer, says. “Going into the competition, I knew we had built a good resume since our trip to Bamboozle last year; but what’s on paper isn’t enough. The bands that went through and were awarded slots at this year’s festival won it on stage. I can’t describe to you how glad I was to know our hard work was rewarded and our talent recognized. Playing this event is an extreme honor for our band.”

 The winning performance was Audio Insight’s first in Asbury Park since being crowned regional winners of The Break Contest last year, a feat which earned them a slot during the 2011 Bamboozle Music Festival at the New Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford.

 Prior to their performance at The Break Invitational, Celi and Audio Insight kicked off a busy 2012 by opening for Just Like Vinyl, a band fronted by former Fall of Troy lead-singer Tom Erak, and A Lot Like Birds (Doghouse Records) at Crocodile Rock Café in Allentown, PA. In addition, a show at The Mr. Roboto Project in Pittsburgh and an opening set for A Great Big Pile of Leaves (Topshelf Records) at The Loft in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. followed.

 In the weeks leading up to The Break Invitational, the band also launched their new website www.audioinsightmusic.com.

 Following the release of their debut album Dimensions in late 2010, last year saw Audio Insight voted as one of the Top 12 Unsigned Acts in the tri-state area, perform at Bamboozle 2011 and the Mall of America, open for Scale the Summit (Prosthetic Records), gain commercial and college radio features as well as air-play across the country, play numerous shows in both New Jersey and New York, obtain critically acclaimed reviews and release their cover of Rush’s ‘The Spirit of Radio’ which debuted on November 13^th during 105.5 FM WDHA’s popular free-form show ‘Anything Anything’. Later that week, Audio Insight’s new cover also aired in Chicago on IndieOnAir! as well as on top college radio station 89.5 FM WSOU during their specialty show ‘Under the Stars’. The station is credited with breaking the band.

 ”Playing last year’s Bamboozle Festival was a spark for us; it set a lot of things in motion,” Celi shares. “Last year was an awesome experience but I don’t think it’ll even come close to what we’ve set our minds to for 2012. Now, we’re a lot better as musicians and performers. We know what we want and we’re working that much harder to get it. This year’s Bamboozle set will bring an energy nobody has seen from us yet.”

 The trio’s fan base continues to grow both in and outside the country. As of Tuesday, April 3^rd, Audio Insight’s Facebook page had over 2,020 fans from 20 different countries including the U.S.

 Though based in Woodbridge, Audio Insight is no stranger to Hudson County.

 Following the band’s addition to the Bamboozle 2012 lineup, on Friday April 6, Celi and Audio Insight visited his hometown to play alongside fellow Bayonne rockers Arctic Flame for a celebratory show at McFadden’s Pub. Last July, following their trip to rock the Mall of America Celi and the band held their first headlining show at Maxwell’s in Hoboken.

 Details regarding the time, date and location of the band’s Bamboozle 2012 performance are yet to be finalized.

 To download several free tracks or find out more information on the band and their Bamboozle 2012 performace, visit www.audioinsightmusic.com

 For those wishing to obtain photos or videos of Audio Insight, or interview the band, please contact Jeremiah Sullivan at 732-754-3772 or jerry@frameworkmediastrategies.com.

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You are cordially invited to attend the event, representing the Hudson County high schools, with a brief awards ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m.  Joan Hajducsek Rosen and George Haviland, Co-coordinators of Hudson County Alliance of Teen Arts and the entire committee urge county, city and school officials, as well as Hudson County talented high school students, their parents and teachers to attend.

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It was a small gesture, lovingly placed in the obituary of their son, Matthew Angelo Scarpa, when he suddenly died on January 3, 2012. Born on September 29, 2011, and only three months, four days old when he passed, this infant made a difference in his parents’ lives, who have now shared that sunshine with others.

            Dignora Aquino and Sgt. Michael J. Scarpa of the Jersey City Police Department are also the parents of four children – WilliamGaius Christopher, Raffaele Charles, Marissa Vera, and Gianna Rose – whose fifth child, Matthew, was known for his radiant smile.

            “That selfless gesture from Matthew’s parents now benefits all Jersey City children who come to the Bonetti Children’s Room at the Main Library,” said Library Director Priscilla Gardner. The books have a commemorative label placed in them, so parents, caregivers and children can know of Matthew:

The Vincenzo Domenico Bonetti II Children’s Room at the Main Library in Jersey City was named on April 18, 2002 after the two-year-old boy who succumbed from an unknown illness on January 27, 2001. His parents provide the Christmas tree for the Children’s Room every year in their son’s honor.

For the latest on programs, events, and special announcements please follow the Library on Facebook or Twitter at Jersey City Free Public Library. Visit us on the web at www.jclibrary.org for all information on the Library, including all press releases in The Press Room.  As of today, May 16, 2012, the Jersey City Free Public Library has 213,100 valid card members.

 ATTACHED:   List of Donated Books

27 Books Donated by Dignora Aquino, in loving memory of her son, Matthew Angelo Scarpa

to the Bonetti Children’s Room, Main Library, Jersey City

 Assorted Children’s Books, By Title

Animales bebés

Care Bears – Sweet Dreams

Curious George – Stories to Share

Duck & Goose – It’s time for Christmas!

Elmo’s World – Balls!

I’m a Construction Worker

Let’s Count!

Love You Forever

Peedie

That’s not my lion…its nose is too fuzzy.

Thomas & Friends – Tales of Discovery

Trucks Camiones

When Papa Comes Home Tonight

Who is Hiding

Dr. Seuss

ABC – An Amazing Alphabet Book!

There’s a Wocket in my Pocket

Disney

Alice in Wonderland

The Aristocats

Bambi

Best Friends

Buscando a Nemo

Dumbo

Lady and the Tramp

The Lion King

Piglet’s BIG Movie

Pinocchio and the Whale

Winnie the Pooh – Pooh Goes Visiting

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More than 900 students will be awarded Associate degrees at the ceremonies at New Jersey Performing Arts Center                                                                             

         Hudson County Community College (HCCC) President Dr. Glen Gabert and members of the  College’s faculty and staff; HCCC Board of Trustees members including James Fife and               Karen Fahrenholz; Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise; Commencement Keynote   Speaker Dr. Walter G. Bumphus, President and CEO of the American Association of the  American Association of Community Colleges; HCCC 2012 Heritage Award Recipient Paul Silverman, Principal of ILVERMAN; Commencement Invocation Leader Reverend Robert  Reiser, S.J., President of St. Peter’s Preparatory School; and the more than 900 graduates of   the HCCC Class of 2012 and their Valedictorian, Union City resident Rogelio “Roger” Sales.

        The 34^th Commencement Exercises of Hudson County Community College.

   Prudential Hall at New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ.

    Wednesday evening, May 23, 2012 beginning at 6 p.m.

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If you grew up in New Jersey it’s likely you knew somebody who had a friend whose second cousin had a brother-in-law whose uncle was connected to “the Mob.” Born in Jersey City and raised in Union City and then Secaucus, Jon D’Amore had family members who were “connected”. An accomplished musician and songwriter, D’Amore kept mental notes of a Las Vegas casino caper that went down back in the day and tells the fascinating and sometimes nail-biting story in his new book, “The Boss Always Sits in the Back.” Here’s an excerpt:

“This is my story, based on actual events, of living on the fringe of what some people call ‘the Mafia.’ You see, several members of my immediate family were connected. Connected simply means that through blood, honor or business…you have a direct connection to the Cosa Nostra, the Mafia, Our Thing, La Famiglia, the Mob. And those members of my family made a very comfortable living for many, many years through this affiliation. I thought about becoming more involved when I was in my early 20s, but at the time it was the mid-1970s. I was a professional musician and having too much fun living the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. I was living every dream of most of my high school and college buddies (and at the time… that mattered!), so why would I want to cut my hair, wear dark suits and ties…and take the chance of getting whacked? Instead, I decided to watch da guys from the sidelines.”

Funny, irreverent and a natural storyteller, D’Amore has made Los Angeles his home since the mid-1990s, but he has remained connected to his Jersey roots. He returns to Hudson this month for special appearances at the Secaucus, Jersey City and North Bergen libraries where he will read excerpts and sign copies of “The Boss Always Sits in the Back,” On a recent afternoon, D’Amore took time out of his busy schedule to talk with Riverview Observer about his controversial new book.

 `RVO: Can you tell our readers what “The Boss Always Sits in the Back” is about?

JD: The book is about some guys I knew from Hudson County who pulled off one of the greatest scams to hit Las Vegas and after it was exposed it changed gambling laws across the country forever so that a scam like this could never happen again. It tells a story of the human side of these people and at the same time it describes the demise of what can be considered ‘the Mob,’ because it certainly isn’t what we knew it to be from the 1940s through the late 1970s.

RVO:  Why did you decide to write a book about the Mob?

JD: The things that happened in this book started in 1975 when I was a musician. When I had heard about what these guys were doing in Vegas, I thought it would make a fantastic story. One thing I always believe to be true is that these guys are part of our history. Like it or not, there isn’t a culture that hasn’t come to this country that didn’t have to do what they needed to do to survive as a family and as a culture. It’s part of our society. These things I heard about I knew it needed to be written about and that these people needed to be immortalized, because of what they were doing. These guys, and I say ‘these guys’ with love and respect, did amazing things when you think that none of them had a college degree, or even prior to 1970, a large number of them didn’t have a high school diploma and some of the things they did were worth writing about. I knew I always wanted to write this story but the timing wasn’t right. I needed to wait. There were loose ends that needed to resolved – people needed to be incarcerated or released.

RVO: Weren’t you a bit nervous about naming names?

JD: I changed the names of everyone except my family. Everybody who is still alive and who I am still in contact with, I told them that I wrote this story and they all ask the same question: ‘Who’s going to play me in the movie?’

RVO:  Have there been any movie offers?

JD: There’s been a lot of interest. I wrote the screenplay and I have people contacting me wanting to talk business. We’re just waiting for the right person to get a $25 million movie made. That’s the budget of this project.

 RVO:  How did you go from being a musician to a writer?

JD:  Because I had been taking guitar lessons since I was seven, by the time I was 14, I could read any kind of music chart put in front of me and that gave me impetus to write songs. I’m not saying any were blockbusters or hits, but I learned how to write lyrics that were good. In the Jersey club bands I played in, the songs I wrote were good for the time we were doing them. I always wrote to a degree, just not books or anything that was publishable until 1976. At the Herald News an editor found out I was a traveling musician and gave me the opportunity to write a weekly column called “Jon D’Amore on the Road.” When I was touring, I got to tell about being a musician on the road. I got to review albums, concerts. I got out of the music business in 1985 and I made it into the corporate world and by the 90s, I was traveling all over the country as a corporate executive doing presentations for large groups. I was in the insurance business but I never sold a life insurance policy in my life. After a decade in the corporate world, I was unhappy with what I was doing. I loved the people who were benefiting from what I did, but I’m not really a corporate guy.

RVO:  What made you decide to become a Californian? Did you have ties there?

JD:  My father had two cousins who had established themselves in the restaurant business in Los Angeles from the 1930s to the 1970s, so when I was a kid, we came out here to visit. I don’t remember this, but I was told that when I was just an infant the actor James Dean, who was a frequent customer of my cousin’s restaurant, picked me up and held me in his arms. Six weeks later he would be killed. I always had a connection out here and I always knew I would live here.

RVO:  You have several book signings scheduled including May 16th at the Secaucus Library. How does it feel to come back to your hometown a published author?

JD:  In all honesty, it’s a wonderful feeling to be able to go back. From first grade to eighth grade, I attended school in Union City and from ninth grade to high school graduation I went to Weehawken High School. (Back when I was living in Secaucus, there wasn’t a local high school and we went to Weehawken.) At the book signings, there will be people I haven’t seen since then. I was the guy who played all the high school dances. And you know whose footsteps I’m following? You know who else was famous from Secaucus who came before me? The Tidy Bowl Man, the guy who did all those Tidy Bowl commercials. That’s the guy I’m following.

If you go:

Jon D’Amore will read excerpts and sign copies of his new book

“The Boss Always Sits in the Back” on the following dates in Hudson:

Wed, May16, 7 pm

Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center 1379 Paterson Plank Road

Secaucus

(201) 330-2083

www.secaucus.bccls.org

Thursday, May 17, 6 pm

North Bergen Free Public Library

8411 Bergenline Avenue

North Bergen (201) 869-4715

www.njpl.org

Mon, May 21, 6 pm

Jersey City Free Public Library

Five Corners Branch

678 Newark Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07306 (201) 547-4543

www.jclibrary.org/branches/five-corners

For more information, or to purchase the hardcover or paperback of “The Boss Always Sits in the Back,” visit www.thebossalwayssitsintheback.com. (hardcover $22; paperback $13)

Kindle and Nook readers can download the book for $7.99 at www.Amazon.com and www.B&N.com

Boxing Promoter Al Certo (2nd from left) along with Boxers: (l) Joey Giardello, next to Al Certo the great Jack Dempsey and Willie Pep

Photo Below: A young Jon D’Amore future author holding a fake machine gun at a friends wedding

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CAGUITLA LEADS IPC MINOR BOYS OVER DUBLIN justin Caguitla pitched a no hitter and then was relieved by Justin Nguyen who came on for the save also had 1 hit and 1 rbi. Stephen Olszewski and Christopher Warren both had 2 hits and 2 rbi’s each for IPC.

EVERETT LEADS IPC OVER GREENVILLE  Mark Everett pitched a 1 hitter and struck out 12 while going the distance in a victory over Greenville 5-0.Everett also had 1 hit and 1 rbi. Also leading the way for IPC were with 1 hit Justin Nygun,Stephen Olszewski,Christopher Warren, and Justin Caguitta. Mike Torillo,Melvin Saladua and Jacob Ladignon chipped in with 1 RBI each. IPC is 2-0.College LL cover Society Hill,Country Village,Port Liberte, and Greenville.

EVERETT 2 RUN BLASTS PUTS IPC AT 3-0 Mark Everett went 2 for 2 with a 2 run homerun,and double and 3 RBI’s. Justin Caguitla went 3 for 3 with 2 RBI’s. Chris Warren came on in relief to earn the win for IPC who is 3-0.IPC was trailing in the bottom of the fourt when they exploded for a 5 run rally started by Brandan Warren.

DEAD SERIOUS MAJOR BOYS OPENS WITH VICTORY OVER IPC Justin Davis led the team with 10 strikeouts, while faraj Deodat went 3 for 4,and Brandon Crawford stroked a triple and 2 RBI’s for a 6-3 victory.

DEAD SERIOUS MAJOR BOYS  GET 2ND VICTORY  Tyler O’Connor pitched Dead Serious Major boys to their 2nd victory and also had a homerun.Maurice Acuna, and Julian Alicia made numerous defensive gems to preserve the victory for Dead Serious

Source: Joe Olszewski

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Sat., May 12, 2012 -

Newport Town Square

100 Town Square Place

Jersey City, NJ 07310

Known as the fastest course in the tri-state area, the Newport 10,000 is a 10K road race along the Hudson River waterfront in Jersey City’s Newport community.

** Proceeds will be donated to the Jersey City Medical Center, the area’s newest regional referral teaching hospital, providing the highest level of care for women and infants, and trauma and heart patients.**

More than 1,200 recreational and elite runners competing at the highest level for $14,400 in prize money

o Pre-registration numbers have already surpassed 2011 participation!

• · A USA Track & Field-certified course that interweaves with the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway and features a backdrop of Manhattan’s skyline from Battery Park City to Midtown

o Great views from the course of NYC’s rising 1 World Trade

• · Live announcement of race results and prize winners immediately following the 10K.
• · Interviews with record-setters, elite participants and more.
• · A Post-Race Party with runners and the community celebrating in Newport.

o There will be a local DJ and prize drawings for New York Mets and New York Red Bulls tickets, gift certificates to The Restaurants at Newport, and one-hour massages

• · Also see the community’s new, Newport Green park, a 4.25-acre waterfront park, featuring Jersey City’s first urban beach, a carousel, playground with water-spray features and more

o Gov. Chris Christie and developer Richard S. LeFrak unveiled the park less than a week ago

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Tree City USA municipalities must have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive urban forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance.

Mayor Smith said, “I would like to thank the Arbor Day Foundation for recognizing Bayonne’s continuing commitment to trees. Planting trees is good for the environment. Trees also increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify residential neighborhoods.”

John Rosenow, President of the Arbor Day Foundation, said, “We all benefit when communities like Bayonne place a high priority on planting and caring for trees, one of our nation’s most beautiful resources.” He continued, “Trees shade our homes and add beauty to our neighborhoods, and they also provide many environmental, economic, and social benefits. We applaud Bayonne’s elected officials, volunteers, and citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest.”

Mayor Smith urges all residents to plant trees and help support the tree program of Bayonne’s Forestry Division. For information on the municipal tree program, please contact Danielle at 201-858-6070.

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