EAST CHINA SEA (Feb. 14, 2015) Machinery Repairman 3rd Class Angelo Principe, from Jersey City, N.J., fabricates a spacer in the machine shop aboard forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Bonhomme Richard is currently deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christian M. Caldwell/Released)
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Step Back in Time for Old World Italian Cuisine at the Barge Inn Restaurant in Jersey City
WHAT JERSEY CITY RESTAURANTS USED TO BE
By Sally Deering
 Few Jersey City restaurants look like they did back in the day; and very few were around in the 1960s like The Barge Inn restaurant a little jewel in Jersey City’s crown. The Barge Inn serves Italian cuisine made from recipes handed down through generations. That’s why the food is so delicious – it’s authentic.
Owners Linda and Peter “Bitsy†Paldino run the restaurant which Linda’s dad John Marto opened in 1969. Linda remembers when Anne Polaro, sister to former Jersey City Mayor Anthony Cucci painted the murals depicting Italian scenes on the restaurant’s walls.
“Mayor Cucci was a friend of my dad’s,†Linda says. “I watched her do them; it took her two weeks.â€
NEWS 12 NEW JERSEY HONORED WITH 10 NEW YORK EMMY® AWARD NOMINATIONS
EDISON, N.J., February 12, 2015 – Yesterday the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honored News 12 New Jersey with 10 New York Emmy® Award nominations. The award nominations were announced at the studios of CUNY-TV in New York City.
“We’re proud of these 10 nominations and the talented people who achieved them,†said Randal Stanley, News 12 New Jersey News Director. “Every day we bring the residents of New Jersey the information they need to know and we do that with enthusiasm, passion, and pride. To be recognized for those efforts with these prestigious awards is truly an honor.â€
The 2015 Emmy® Awards will be presented on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at The Marriott Marquee Times Square in New York City. The New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, founded in 1955, is the preeminent membership organization serving the television industry. NY NATAS encourages the pursuit of excellence and promotes the highest standards of quality in television by conferring the industry’s classic and most-coveted peer-recognition symbol of distinction – the Emmy®. Continue reading NEWS 12 NEW JERSEY HONORED WITH 10 NEW YORK EMMY® AWARD NOMINATIONS
ArtSCENE: ART SHOWS, PLAYS AND DANCE PERFORMANCE LISTINGS
ArtSCENE
Throughout the year, Jersey City and other Hudson locales snap, crackle and pop with cultural events – art shows, plays, and dance performances – put on by the diverse and richly-talented artists who live in our local neighborhoods. Art is a huge part of Hudson’s community and quality-of-life; so, from now on, in every issue of River View Observer, we’ll list this go-to guide to what’s happening on the local ArtSCENE.
 313 Gallery at JC Art School
 
313 GALLERY, 313 –3rd Street, JC, (732) 877-9116, www.jcartist.org.
Now through Feb 21: GENTRIFICATION, The Changing Landscape of Jersey City – A documentary art exhibition featuring Narciso Espiritu, Fabricio Suarez, Sam Pullin; curated by Allison Hall.
Continue reading ArtSCENE: ART SHOWS, PLAYS AND DANCE PERFORMANCE LISTINGS
Wes Moore, Nationally Acclaimed Youth Advocate, Rhodes Scholar and Best-Selling Author to Speak at Hudson County Community College
The author of “The Other Wes Moore,†a Phi Theta Kappa member and OWN TV host, will speak at the College on Thursday evening, February 19; the event is open to the community.             Â
February 11, 2015, Jersey City, NJ – The Hudson County Community College (HCCC) 2014-2015 Lecture Series will continue this month when Wes Moore, the author of The New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-seller, The Other Wes Moore, will appear at the College.  The event will be held Thursday, February 19 at 6 p.m. in the HCCC Culinary Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City – just two blocks from the Journal Square PATH Transportation Center. It is open to the entire Hudson County community, and there is no charge for admission. However, tickets are necessary and must be obtained in advance. Continue reading Wes Moore, Nationally Acclaimed Youth Advocate, Rhodes Scholar and Best-Selling Author to Speak at Hudson County Community College
Valentine’s Day Attracts Lovers All Over the World
BE MINE
RVO Staff Writer
Heart-shaped boxes of creamy chocolates, bouquets of roses, and lovey-dovey cards are some of the ways lovers celebrate Valentine’s Day here in the U.S. And February 14th isn’t just a happy day for lovers. In a survey published last month by the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, companies producing Valentine candy, cards, flowers and novelties are swooning like teenage sweethearts because Valentine’s Day generates more than $13 Billion in revenue.
That’s a whole lotta love!
 Okay, so we all know people in the U.S. throw down some serious dough on Valentine’s Day, but how do people in other countries celebrate? What are their customs, traditions?
Here’s a peek.
FRANCE
It’s been said the first Valentine’s Day card originated in France in the 1400s when Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent love letters to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
Back in the day, the French followed the tradition “une loterie d’amour†(drawing for love) that matched lovers by the sound of their voice. Single men and women would enter houses facing each other and take turns calling out to one another until they were paired off. If the men didn’t like their match, they left the woman for another man to call. As part of the tradition, the women that didn’t get matched up, got together afterward for a big ceremonial bonfire where they tossed pictures and objects of the men who rejected them, and cursed their names. French officials banned the tradition when the women got too rowdy and out of control. Today, the French take their lovers out for some fine French cuisine and champagne, and it’s the most popular day for men to get down on that bended knee and propose.
Continue reading Valentine’s Day Attracts Lovers All Over the World
Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer Gets a New Chief of Staff
BUSINESS DISTRICT ALLIANCE OF FORT LEE ANSWERS THE CALL TO HELP EDGEWATER FIRE VICTIMS
Fort Lee—Not long after a devastating fire at an
 displaced about 1,000 residents the Business District Alliance (BDA) of Fort Lee board members sprang into action to offer help.  First, they all agreed to dip into their budget to donate nearly $5,000.00 by purchasing gift cards to local businesses. (The gift cards can be used at area restaurants and other businesses and were selected based on a priority list of essential items provided by Edgewater Strong, a local charity leading the relief efforts.) Next BDA Board Members mobilized the area business owners and other stakeholders in Fort Lee to join their efforts with a match of their own. As a result, hundreds of gift cards have been collected with a collective value of over $2,400.00. This figure coupled with the BDA donation brings the grand total to more than $7,100. The cards will be distributed by Edgewater Strong (see www.edgewaterstrong.com for info on how to obtain).
Susan Murphy’s “GIRL GROUP: A Daughter’s Tale†A Jersey City Story about The Carmelettes All-Girl Singing Group
Opens Feb. 7th at the Loew’s Jersey City
February 7th  show is sold out -a second show is being added at a later date
JERSEY GIRLSÂ
 By Sally Deering
Before Beyoncé, and Madonna, Mariah, Aretha and the all-girl groups of the 1960s, there was The Carmelettes, a trio of teen Jersey girls from the Marion section of Jersey City who sang original pop tunes in tight harmonies. It was 1959, and the girls Angela LaPrete, Vicky Cevetello and Virginia Verga recorded two songs, “My Foolish Heart†and “Promise Me a Rose.†A year later, they cut two more records, “Aching for You†and “Something Tells Me I’m in Love.â€Â
 It’s a Jersey City tale that would be long forgotten if not for Susan Murphy, Angela LaPrete’s daughter, a professional singer herself who wrote a play with music about her mother’s experience in “GIRL GROUP: A Daughter’s Tale†to be presented at the Loew’s Jersey City in Journal Square – just blocks from where The Carmelettes were born – on Sat, Feb. 7 at 7 pm. (Tix $20 at www.brownpapertickets.com). A reception follows. Continue reading Susan Murphy’s “GIRL GROUP: A Daughter’s Tale†A Jersey City Story about The Carmelettes All-Girl Singing Group
 Samuel Pott, Artistic Director of Nimbus Dance Works , Jersey City gives Dancers a Place to Soar
CREATING DANCE, INSPIRING DANCERS
Our interview with Samuel Pott
 By Sally Deering
The Jersey City dance company Nimbus Dance Works’ repertory of dances blends contemporary with classical and newbies with professionals; and Artistic Director Samuel Pott likes it that way.
Nimbus Dance Works celebrates its 10th season in Jersey City this year with new works by guest choreographers, a performance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and a brand new dance studio on Third Street. The school has expanded tremendously since the move from the Barrow Mansion and class registration is in full bloom for the spring session which begins Feb. 2nd. Continue reading  Samuel Pott, Artistic Director of Nimbus Dance Works , Jersey City gives Dancers a Place to Soar
