JERSEY CITY, N.J. / June 23, 2011 – Hudson County Community College is continuing to conduct information sessions to acquaint college graduates with a program that will enable them to become licensed teachers. The next session will be held on Tuesday, July 12, at 6 p.m. at the College’s Culinary Arts Institute/Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City. Please pre-register by calling HCCC’s Non-Credit Office at (201) 360-4255.
New Play at LaMama in New York based on The Carmelettes, the 1950s All-Girl Doo-Wop Group from Jersey City
The Carmelettes: Angela LaPrete, Vicky Cevetello and Virginia Verga
By Sally Deering
Susan Murphy
When I think of girl groups that influenced my teen years, my mind goes straight to The Shangri-Las, four big-haired girls from Queens and their 1964 hit “Leader of the Pack.” That rocking tune about an ill-fated crush on a biker boy became the song for 60s teen-girl angst, inspiring us to iron our hair, slather our lips in Yardley pinks and Frug in white go-go boots. Â
 Before the Shangri-Las and girl groups of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond, there were girl doo- whop groups and one fondly remembered was The Carmelettes, a Jersey City trio of teen girls christened their girl-group name by their parish priest at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. In 1959, the girls Angela LaPrete, Vicky Cevetello and Virginia Verga recorded two songs, “My Foolish Heart” and “Promise Me a Rose,”  and in 1960 “Aching for You” and “Something Tells Me I’m in Love.” They sang backup for Neil Sedaka’s hit “Oh Carol,” and Carole King’s hit “Oh Neil.” And when the group regrouped under the name “The Kittens,” (after Verga left for a solo career,) the LaPrete and Cevetello sang backup on several songs including the Top 40 hit “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” – which bombarded the airwaves during the summer of 1960. When the group disbanded in the 1961, the girls went on to start other careers and raise families. LaPrete married James Murphy (folks just know him as “Murphy”) and the couple raised their  daughter Susan, who went on to earn a BFA in Drama at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and become a singer in clubs and cabarets while performing in Off-Off Broadway plays. A drama teacher at Snyder High School, Susan Murphy continues to reinvent herself and her latest career turn is her new play, “Girl/Group: A Daughter’s Tale” a personal piece about her mother’s life as a doo-whop singer and the affect it has had on Murphy’s life. (“Girl/Group: A Daughter’s Tale” features Murphy along with Tom Cappadona, Drew Citron, Alison Scaramella, and Jenna Smith and is directed by Mario Giacalone. It opens at LaMama’s The Club in New York City on June 17 and runs through June 26.)
 Ideas sometimes come to us in dreams and that’s exactly how Bill Sorvino conceived the Golden Door International Film Festival to be held in Jersey City in October. What started as images flickering in his sleeping mind will now be images flickering on the silver screen.
 “I had a dream last year about having a film festival in Jersey City,” Sorvino says,” and it was like lightning in a bottle. Jersey City is close to my heart. I grew up here and my family has a 100-year history here. I want Jersey City to have something in its own right.”
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Actor Paul Sorvino and nephew Bill Sorvino
Dreaming of a film festival is not much of a stretch for Sorvino. He’s a screenwriter and actor who studied at the William Esper Studios in New York City and has appeared in several indie films. He also hails from a theatrical family – his uncle is celebrated actor Paul Sorvino and he’s cousin to Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino – and throughout the years Bill Sorvino shared conversations with his Uncle Paul and cousin Mira about film, theater and acting held during family gatherings at the dinner table.  Continue reading Golden Door International Film Festival Director Invites Filmmakers to Screen Their Dreams in Jersey City→
Students at the Center: The Campaign for Saint Peter’s College to Raise $62 Million to Benefit Fundamental Elements Including Academics, Jesuit Mission, Athletics, Endowment and the
Construction of the College’s First Ever Student Center
Jersey City, N.J. – May 7, 2011 – Saint Peter’s College has officially launched the public phase of the most transformational capital campaign the College has ever seen, Students at the Center: The Campaign for Saint Peter’s College. With a minimum goal of $62 million, the construction of the College’s first ever student center stands at the heart of this comprehensive Campaign. In addition, the Campaign will help to grow the College’s endowment and The Saint Peter Fund, formerly known as the annual fund, as well as invest in Saint Peter’s Jesuit mission and identity, academics and athletics. Continue reading Saint Peter’s College Launches Largest Capital Campaign in the College’s History→
One month after AFLAC Snafu Gilbert Gottfried Makes’em Laugh at Michael Anthonys’ in Jersey City
By Sally Deering
 His voice is like a soft breeze blowing through a beer can; a bunch of bears munching potato chips around a campfire; a sock of nickels whacked against aluminum siding.
 There’s no mistaking Gilbert Gottfried, a comedian who’s been entertaining people with his off-the-wall comedy since the 1970s and who recently made headlines when Aflac fired him as the voice of the duck after he tweeted post-Tsunami jokes on Twitter. The company disowned Gottfried because they found his jokes inappropriate, but Gottfried’s stand-up pals and fans defend Gottfried’s wild card humor because they know that’s his style. Even Gottfried admits he “was born without a censor.” Continue reading GILBERT GOTTFRIED QUACKS UP!→
Comedian Gilbert Gottfried brings laughter to the Jersey City Waterfront on Apirl 14th, 2011
  Jersey City, New Jersey -National talent and recent controversial joke maker Gilbert Gottfried headlines Thursday, April 14th, 2011 at Michael Anthony’s dazzling Waterfront Restaurant in Jersey City, New Jersey. Host John “Nutsy” Fagan, another Jersey City Resident, will be on hand to warm up the evening.
After spending several years mastering the art of stand-up comedy, producers of the legendary NBC late night comedy show Saturday Night Live became aware of Gottfried and, in 1980, hired him as a cast member. It wasn’t until a few years later when his true notoriety would begin when MTV hired him for a series of improvised and hilarious promos for the newly formed channel. This led to several television appearances on “The Cosby Show” and “Late Night with David Letterman.”
On a beautiful Saturday morning with the tempatures in the high 50s, Mayor Jerrimiah Healy of Jersey City, along with Peter Brennan City Council President and Steven Fulop Ward E Councilman of downtown Jersey city officiated over the dedication for the naming of 5th and Monmouth as Louis Calamito Way.
Over 50 people both family and friends were there for the dedication.
Photo by Steveamack – more photos and story to come.
 Intersection of Monmouth and 5th Streets as Louis Calamito Way
 -Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy and members of the Municipal Council will dedicate the intersection of Monmouth Street and Fifth Street as Louis Calamito Way on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. ”
In dedicating the intersection of Monmouth and 5th Streets to Louis Calamito,” said Mayor Healy. “We pay tribute to his contributions to Jersey City and to this great country. I wish the Calamito family happiness in their endeavors and thank them for their support of our Jersey City neighborhoods, especially Monmouth Street.”
  JERSEY CITY – Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy and Police Department officials released official crime statistics for the year of 2010 that show for the second consecutive year both violent and non-violent crime decreased in city limits.
There were two (2) percent fewer violent crimes in 2010 compared to 2009, which includes categories such as homicide, rape, robbery and assault. The decrease continues the trend that started in 2009, where the city witnessed 30-year lows in violent and non-violent categories, including a 30-percent drop in robberies. Overall crime, both violent and non-violent dropped by 49 incidents, or .5 percent.
AN INTRODUCTION TO SPRING JC FRIDAYS: MARCH 4, 2011
A City-Wide, All-Day Celebration of Art & Culture in Jersey City
Once again, Art House Productions is presenting the ever-exciting JC Fridays on Friday, March 4, 2011. A multitude of venues throughout Jersey City will showcase a variety of happenings including art exhibitions, live music, performance acts, educational demonstrations, and more. All events are free and open to the public. As one of the preeminent art scenes in the tri-state area, Jersey City is abound with visual artists, musicians, and individuals with unique talent; JC Fridays is one of the best times for them to share their newest projects and works. This quarterly event promises to be one of the most entertaining JC Fridays yet. A full listing of events follows at the end of this press release. Continue reading JC FRIDAYS BACK -PLENTY TO DO IN JERSEY CITY’s CITY WIDE CELEBRATION OF ART & CULTURE→
A lifestyle and entertainment publication serving the Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, Weehawken, West New York, North Bergen, Cliffside Park, Edgewater, Secaucus and Guttenberg Waterfront Communities
Ideas sometimes come to us in dreams and that’s exactly how Bill Sorvino conceived the Golden Door International Film Festival to be held in Jersey City in October. What started as images flickering in his sleeping mind will now be images flickering on the silver screen.
