Tag Archives: NY

COVER STORY-Leading The Kennedy Dancers

Diane Dragone (still) has the Dancer in Her Soul

new-diane-in-sailor-suit-in-air

by Sally Deering 

 In the 1920s, when Shirley Temple tapped into America’s hearts with her bouncing ringlets, ruffled crinolines and shiny black tap shoes, mothers from Canarsie to Kenosha trundled their daughters off to their local dance school dreaming of their baby girl’s name in lights. Nowadays, child stars go by first names like Britney, but the local dance school still thrives as the only training ground for kids who dream of a dancing career.

 One local dance pioneer who has kept the stage lights burning in her neighborhood dance studio for the past 34 years is Diane Dragone, Artistic Director of The Kennedy Dancers, a professional dance company and dance school that stands in the wings of New York City.  Through her school and with her years as a teacher and choreographer, Dragone has trained and enriched the lives of thousands of inner-city kids – some who became professional dancers — and she has brought modern and classical dance performances to the multi-cultural and economically-diverse Hudson community. Continue reading COVER STORY-Leading The Kennedy Dancers

Introducing the One and Only “Johnny Martin”

Successful  Businesman and Former Hudson County Resident Follows His Passion for Music   by Evelyn Bonilla

new-color-photo-johnny-martin

Record producers will tell you that in order to make it in the music business you have to be equipped with; a good strong voice, loads of confidence and the ability to perform on the spot, and to have passion! The passion to give it all you’ve got and the drive not to stop until you get there!

Just ask Johnny Martin (aka John Marino) a singer whose drive and passion have propelled him to record his first CD, “Johnny Martin, I Will Always Love You.” Continue reading Introducing the One and Only “Johnny Martin”

Does George Washington – Owes Library Fines, about $100,000 in Late Fees?

over-due

According to the website Lowering the Bar  President George Washington has been accused by a New York Library for failing to return valuable library materials checked out during his presidency. It seems the former President  took out two books on in October of 1789, one  on international law and another that contained transcripts of debates in Britain’s House of Commons.  The books were due back November 2, 1789.  If it’s found to be true, that neither book was ever returned this would mean that , setting aside the value of the items themselves, and adjusting for inflation, Washington currently owes about $100,000 in late fees.

Source: boingboing

Read more Lowering the Bar

Crowds come out for 2nd Annual Yo Mama’s Craft Fair in Downtown, Jersey City

new-billy-kirkAccording to their website  Not Yo Mama’s Craft Fair started last year with an idea and acted upon by Sophie Penkrat, Megan Gulick and Leah Siegel- Picus.

The second annual fair was held yesterday On Saturday April 17 to entusiastic crowds  and  over 60 artists  selling  7500 or more items at Parlay Studio’s 161 2nd St., Downtown Jersey City.  Everything from  jewelry, leather goods, soaps, furniture, cakes, leather bags, paintings  and many other items were on display and being sold.

The doors opened at 11am and the event  ran until 6pm.

Besides the vendors, live entertainment was provided by  Kelly St. Patrick, Hezekiah Jones, Any Day Parade, Chrisitan Alessi, Land of the Look Behind

A portion of yesterday ‘s fair proceeds will go to Arts to Grow a non -profit organization which is dedicated to providing inner city children with a chance to explore the visual, literary and performing arts

Presenting sponsors of yesterday’s event was the Saffron, Boutique Realty and Michael Anthony’s.

Vendors looking to show their wares at next years fair or business looking to act as a sponosor should visit their website at notyomamasaffairs.com

More photos to come

Attic Ensemble Presents WORKING

River View Observer “Best Pick”

Local Theater Performance

April 23-May 9

WORKING  FEATURIN:
LY BEATTY / JENNY FERSCH / MARK DUNN
ERIN FLANAGAN ES E. SPLOND

 Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm;  Thursdays, April 29 and May 6 at 7pm. ms, joys and concerns of the average working American are the focus of this unique, extraordinary musical. That the everyday lives of “common” men and women should be so compelling and moving will  surprise and inspire anyone who has ever punched a time clock.  Based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with American  workers, Working paints a vivid portrait of the men and women the world  so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the parking lot attendant, the  waitress, the millworker, the mason, the trucker, the fireman, the  housewife, just to name a few. It’s a highly original look at the American landscape that’s simply impossible to forget.
 
Charge tickets Online. Cash and checks are accepted at the box office.  NJ Arts Cards are accepted for discounted ticket pricing.     The Barrow Mansion is handicapped accessible and barrier free. Large print program available upon request; please call one week in advance to arrange for a large print program. Assisted listening devices will be available for the Thursday May 6th 7 p.m. performance. Please call one week in advance to reserve a device.

The Attic Ensemble Inc

 

Quick Chek Announces Winners of Devils Night Out Sweepstakes

Hudson County Resident Runner Up-Mary Beth Cole of Bayonne, N.J.

Grand Prize Winner from North Haledon, N.J. Honors Father

devilsnightoutwinners2010Dana Nicoletti from North Haledon, N.J., (second from left) who nominated her father Chris Di Lenno (first from left) to win Quick Chek’s Devils Night Out Sweepstakes, enjoy the New Jersey Devils game along with Nicoletti’s daughter, Alexandra Nicoletti (third from left), and brother Chris Di Lenno (fourth from left), at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Sat., April 10. 

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., April 14, 2010 – Quick Chek, the family-operated premier chain of more than 120 food store locations throughout New Jersey and Southern New York, announces today the winners of its Third Annual Devils Night Out Sweepstakes. Continue reading Quick Chek Announces Winners of Devils Night Out Sweepstakes

Local NJ Band Rocks to Fight Cancer

Blisserine holds benefit concert for

 the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

band-photo-for-lua Clifton based rock band Blisserine will host a benefit concert on March 25th  at 8 p.m.   at LUA Restaurant in Hoboken, NJ.

Benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the concert will allow Blisserine to bring a greater awareness to the fight against cancer with the performance their hit song Spirit of the Fight, their first single and original recording.  Continue reading Local NJ Band Rocks to Fight Cancer

The Art of Justice: Howard Pyle’s Legacy Prevails at the Brennan Court House

by Sally Deering

howard-pyle-artistHoward Pyle, the “Father of American Illustration,” was also famous for painting historic murals like “The Landing at Carteret” which hangs in the Essex County Court House in Newark and other works collected by the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, the Delaware Art Museum and the Brandywine River Museum. But you don’t have to hop a plane to Frisco or a train to Delaware to see Pyle’s paintings up close. Four murals depicting the history of Hudson County hang in the beautifully restored, Beaux Arts landmark Justice William J. Brennan Court House in Jersey City, where people from all walks of life can view Pyle’s majestic and historic paintings.   Continue reading The Art of Justice: Howard Pyle’s Legacy Prevails at the Brennan Court House

Jersey City Museum presents HAIR TATICS

Jersey City Museum is pleased to present Hair Tactics,

an exhibition guest curated by Rocío ArandaAlvarado and on view at Jersey City Museum February 5 though August 22, 2010. Hair Tactics features over 30 visual artists whose artworks explore hair as subject matter and medium. Increasingly, artists have begun to use both real and synthetic human hair to create works of art. Some use synthetic hair because it is widely and inexpensively available in urban neighborhoods, others because it is laden with social and political meaning, and still others because they are exploring the human obsession with hair. Continue reading Jersey City Museum presents HAIR TATICS

Former NBA Player John Celestand Joins MSG Varsity

celestandphotoFormer NBA player John Celestand has come back to his New Jersey roots, as a Garden State basketball play-by-play announcer for MSG Varsity. Celestand (on right) is pictured with fellow sports producer Lou Brogno.

 

BETHPAGE, N.Y., January 25, 2010 – John Celestand, former NBA player and member of the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship team in 2000, has come back to his New Jersey roots, as a Garden State basketball play-by-play announcer for MSG Varsity.

 Celestand, an alumnus of Piscataway High School, helped lead the Chiefs to two consecutive County Championships. He went on to play at Villanova University scoring, 227 points in 124 career games from 1995-99. He was drafted in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft by the Lakers. Continue reading Former NBA Player John Celestand Joins MSG Varsity