The office of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy  announced today that it’s coordinating the relief effort for the 21 families who were victims of the devastating fire on Claremont Avenue that destroyed ten buildings on Easter Sunday.
The Mayor’s Office will be placing collection boxes at four city buildings and one private, residential building for residents to donate non-perishable food items, new and gently used clothing, toys, books, school supplies and other items for the 56 people left homeless by the fire, which includes 22 children, who lost everything in the 6-alarm blaze. A sixth collection box is being set up by the Soccer Learning Center to specifically collect items for the children.
“This is one of the worst fires our city has seen in recent years and we know there will be an outpouring from the community to support these families,” said Mayor Healy. “Our hearts go out to those affected by this tragic fire and we want them to know that their City is here to help and assist them in any way possible.”
Mark the calendar for Thursday, April 19 …Teaneck, NJ…THE GROUP HARMONY ALLEY on WFDU-FM fundraiser…A lineup of brilliant and distinctive live acappella, featuring The legendary PERSUASIONS – prodigious, versatile and masters of their craft; The MAGIC TOUCH with eclectic combination of material and styles anchored by the classic 50s/60s vocal group sound; The SHEPS – always known for unusual picks and collectors’ favorites; Philadelphia’s own — A PERFECT BLEND – debuting a brand new configuration, sure to surprise your ears (and eyes!) with that tight harmony sound that lives up to their signature standard of perfection; and THE VIC DONNA GROUP –with uniquely credible foothold in delivering solid collector standard harmony in total prolificacy! Plus…50/50 Raffle…and LIVE 10 minute AUCTION during intermission – auctioning a CHOICE performance (Jersey City’s Bad Boys of Acappella), gift baskets of Italian food items, R&R memorabilia, Imperial DAX Hair care products and art…maybe more. Cash or checks only for auction purchases. Plus a free piece of high-quality delicious cannoli cake for everyone – while supplies last. See poster below for details on ticketing, dinner, reservations or call Christine Vitale at 201-707-0418.
This week’s Top 10 homes spotlight at www.toptenrealestatedeals.com/ includes a beautiful old Victorian on Staten Island that some people say is haunted. Balthasar Kreischer owned a brick factory on Staten Island in the 1800s. He built two large identical mansions for his sons, Edward and Charles, but Edward later committed suicide and both the family business and one of the mansions burned down. In 2005, the surviving mansion was the site of a mafia killing ground where then-caretaker, Joseph (Joe Black) Young, was charged with the slaying of Robert McKelvey and sawing the body into pieces before throwing them into the furnace. Some say you can still hear Edward’s widow weeping in this mansion along with scratching sounds in a spot where children were punished, and a man and a woman ghost slamming doors. The home has been completely restored.
More Mitt Romney home news with details leaking about his La Jolla, California beachfront home scheduled to undergo an expensive renovation after the 2012 presidential election. The news that is getting a lot of late-night TV jokes is that Mitt’s new garage includes a car elevator, or as his campaign people described it to the New York Times: “a mechanism for storing cars in tight spaces.†The existing structure will be replaced by a new 11,062sf estate which will include a 3,600sf finished basement.
It is universally agreed that 1939 was the greatest year in the history of the American Cinema. The year saw the release of a number of movies which are today considered true Classics.
New Meadowlands Racetrack LLC’s (NMRLLC) first off-track wagering (OTW) facility, Winners, is on target for a July opening in Bayonne. The 25,000 square-foot venue will boast two large simulcast viewing areas, a VIP room, and a 40-seat bar. The venue is expected to operate generally seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. until the end of racing and sports. McLoone’s will operate a custom-designed restaurant that emphasizes race and sports-viewing capabilities. With more than 150 television screens, plenty of on-site parking, and outdoor smoking lounges, the facility aims to please racing enthusiasts and sports fans alike. 
