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By Sally Deering
 By Sally Deering
The classic Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life!” is a holiday tradition that seems to make us all remember the true spirit of Christmas isn’t how much money you spend, but the friends and family who stick by you when the chips are down.
 As we all get ready to spend the holidays with family and friends, let’s not forget the more than 1.5 million U.S. Servicemen-and-women deployed overseas and on active duty here in the states who won’t be home this holiday to eat dinner with the family or steal a Christmas kiss under the mistletoe. Continue reading River View Observer Cover Story-Share your Holiday Spirit with our Soldiers Overseas!
River View Observer Holiday Picks -On the Go for Some Ho-Ho-Ho!
   by Sally Deering
 Feeling the holiday spirit can be as tough as finding a parking space in Hoboken. Sure, it’s there somewhere, but only after you go around the block a few times barking “bah-humbug” under your breath!
Well, not this year! There are plays, movies and other holiday events happening locally (or just a car or train ride away) guaranteed to get you in the spirit these next few weeks. Here’s a sampling:
The Spirit of Dickens
There’s a special performance going on in Hoboken, a beautiful and unique production of “A Christmas Carol told by the Spirit of Charles Dickens,” at the Mile Square Theatre, a charming 110-seat space on the second floor of the Monroe Arts Center (720 Clinton St.) It runs through Dec. 19th and it’s a dreamy rendition of the classic tale of miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge performed by Lenard Petit, an accomplished actor who narrates the story as the incarnation of Charles Dickens and proceeds to play all the parts of the Christmas tale – 18 characters of varying shapes, sizes and genders in a performance that captivates the audience from beginning to end. At the Sunday matinee I attended, children in the first row seemed mesmerized and not one whisper of “Mommy, I want to go home!” could be heard in the theater. Continue reading Holiday Events-Plays, Films and Festive Events Highlight the Holiday Season
River View Observer Best Pick for Local High School Theatrical Production for the Christmas Season!
              PERFORMANCE    DATES:Â
Dec. 3 & 4 -7pm
Dec. 5 -2pm
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All performances held in the Alexander X. O’Connor Auditorium at Bayonne High School
http://www.seatyourself.biz/bhsdramasociety
$12 Adult
$10 Student/Senior
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Newark, NJ – Each year on December 1st, World AIDS Day, millions of people worldwide unite in an effort to raise awareness about the global spread of AIDS; remember those who died from AIDS; and celebrate the victories in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Continue reading Universal Access and Human Rights World AIDS Day 2010
Restored artwork preserves faith within Hudson County Community
 Thirteen stained-glass windows will be unveiled in their new home at the Holy Name Mausoleum in Jersey City on Saturday, November 6th. These artifacts, which are valued over $525,000, were removed from Saint Boniface Parish Church and have undergone a rigorous restoration, uncovering the true beauty of their nineteenth century craftsmanship.
 “These fragile artifacts represent how our community has expressed its faith over the years,” said Andrew Schafer, Executive Director, Catholic Cemeteries, Archdiocese of Newark. “While the stained-glass pieces have a significant monetary value, they hold an even stronger sacramental worth to the Catholic Church and its generation upon generation of followers in Hudson County.”
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Continue reading Stained-Glass Windows Find New Home at Holy Name Mausoleum In Jersey City
River View Observer Best Pick Exhibiton for the entire family
Main Exhibition: October 16, 2010 – January 9, 2011
Baby Lyuba: October 16, 2010 – November 10, 2010
 Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age explores the lives of these majestic animals and the environments they traversed. It also guides guests on an exploration of climate change then and now, helping visitors of all ages understand the implications of changing ecosystems. This exciting exhibition from The Field Museum, Chicago, brings a rich collection of fossils, touchable casts, real preserved animal tissue, immersive media, and engaging interactives to the NJ-NY area for the first-and only-time.
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Continue reading Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age
October 19, 2010, Jersey City, NJ – The United States Department of Education has awarded a $2.97 million grant to Hudson County Community College (HCCC). The College was selected for the award from the Title V – Hispanic-Serving Institutions competitive grants program titled “Building a 21st Century Community College.”
Hudson County Community College President Dr. Glen Gabert said the funding – which will be provided over a five-year period – will be dedicated to two major initiatives: (1) Expanding access and increasing student success and persistence through the establishment of a Center for Distance Education; and (2) strengthening the capacity of the College’s mathematics and technology programs. Continue reading Hudson County Community College Awarded$2.97 Million from U.S. Department of Education
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 Film Producer PJ Leonard Rolls out Red Carpet for Little Curly Top at NYC Premier of “The Fallen Faithful”
 By Sally Deering
 Film producer PJ Leonard grew up in Jersey City at a time when mothers taught sons to do the right thing with a smack in the back of the head. He’s one of those tough-talking types with the heart of a marshmallow, like when Bogart says bye-bye to Bergman in “Casablanca.” Bogey, too, had to do the right thing and maybe his mama cracked him good because he ended up sacrificing his only crack at freedom for the woman he loved.
 “The Fallen Faithful” is Leonard’s second crack at filmmaking as Executive Producer doing what producers do best – making a movie from script-reading to film screening. As Executive Producer of Other Side of the River Productions Leonard raises money, puts creative teams together, hires actors, negotiates contracts and scouts locations – the bim, bam, boom of movie-making. It’s also his job to get his new film seen, which is exactly what Leonard put in place for Monday, October 25th at the Director’s Guild Theater in New York City where “The Fallen Faithful” makes it’s NYC premiere. It promises to be a glitzy night with the film’s stars Sonny Marinelli and Obba Babatunde attending and one special name on the guest list that isn’t in the credits.Â
 Meghan “Maggie” Elizabeth Russo, a curly-topped two year-old from Staten Island was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare form of cancer that forms in the eye. Currently in treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, little Meghan has a tough road ahead as she prepares for a bone-marrow transplant and a series of chemo. Her dad, Mike is a NYC Firefighter and mom, Mary Beth, left her full-time job to care for Maggie, her older brother Michael and baby sister Mary Kate. Keeping the family healthy and happy are Mike and Mary Beth’s number one priority, and according to Leonard, “they look like the happiest people in the world, always doing things together,” but they can use a helping hand paying for necessities like Pampers and babysitters. That’s where Leonard plays a part.
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Continue reading Jersey City Film Producer PJ Leonard Lends a Helping Hand With The Premiere of Falling Faithful
Park Will Be Built For Use By Residents And Community
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JERSEY CITY, N.J. – CANCOlofts, an industrial-to-residential condominium loft building in Jersey City, celebrated the groundbreaking on Sept. 10 for CANCOpark, a public park that is being constructed across the street from CANCOlofts, at 50 Dey Street.
 CANCOpark, which will offer 15,000 square feet of green space, landscaping, seating and a walking path, is expected to be complete by the end of October. The park will be open for the enjoyment of CANCOlofts residents as well as residents of the neighborhood, contributing to the already appealing lifestyle of the unique property, formerly the American Can Co.
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Continue reading CANCOlofts Condominium In Jersey City Celebrates Groundbreaking For CANCOpark
