Grants expand programs; SDA wins honors Florida | Journal Entries

Grants help expand digital literacy

The Comcast Foundation announced it awarded more than $315,000 in grants to 14 nonprofit organizations in New Jersey in 2017. The grants helped grow the impact of programs supported by the Comcast Foundation's mission to empower communities by providing access to technology, digital skills and training, and inspiring volunteerism, service and leadership.

The Boys & Girls Clubs chapters in New Jersey; the Urban League of Hudson County and Hispanics Inspiring Students' Performance and Achievement are among the organizations that were supported by the Comcast Foundation this past year.

SDA dance team wins national championship

The Saint Dominic Academy, Jersey City, Dance Team won their third consecutive National Championship at the National Dance Alliance National High School Competition held the weekend of March 2-4 at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando, Florida.

The nine-member team defended their national title in the Small Varsity POM Division.  The team also received the Innovative Choreography Award and the Technical Excellence Award.

Members of the team include seniors Sophia Feijoo and Emily Gill, both of Bayonne, sophomores Mallory Geisler of Bayonne and Kayla Stewart of Jersey City, freshmen Olivia Aidukas and Avery Sullivan, both of Bayonne, Chloe Butler of Nutley, and Nastasja Gunnings of West Orange.  Aisha Adeboye, an 8th grader from Jersey City completes the team which is coached by veteran coach Marie Pompeo Maria, a 1979 alumna, as well as other alumnae Amanda Herring '06 and Taylor Siebel '14.

RPM Raceway offers adult racing league

RPM Raceway in Jersey City has announced the return of its 4-week adult go-kart league for spring. The racing league gives people the opportunity to go wheel to wheel with drivers from all over the area for four weeks of racing to prove they're the best on the track by competing in weekly races in various formats including a Grand Prix, endurance races and more.

Participants will compete every Tuesday night from April 10 to May 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. to take home the Grand Prize, which includes bragging rights, their name on the Jersey City League Champion's Plaque, three free RPM Raceway races as well as 50 percent off all track races during the month of May and one race on its racing simulator, RPM SIM. Second and third place finishers will also receive a trophy as well as free races on the track and on RPM SIM. Pricing for RPM Raceway's adult racing league is $325 for members, or $365 for non-members.

Students earn honors

Mark Ma of Harrison, Shannon Clare, of Rutherford, and Noah Epstein of Hoboken have made Colgate University's Dean's List for the Fall 2017 semester.

Domenica C. Cevallos, of Guttenberg, has been named to second honors on the Clark University Dean's List. This selection marks outstanding academic achievement during the Fall 2017 semester.

Islamic Relief USA to package meals for African students

Islamic Relief USA will hold a meal packaging event in Kearny to benefit school children in several African nations. IRUSA is part of an alliance with Rise Against Hunger and Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) International that was formed a few years ago to address the aftermath of a devastating El Nino drought that severely impacted many Southern African countries. The event will take place at 110 Central Ave. Suite 190, on March 25.

Jersey City resident graduates

Robert Ranalli of Jersey City graduated with a J.D. from the St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas, during the Hooding Ceremony on Dec. 16.

Weehawken native helps clean-up efforts

Operations Specialist 3rd Class Eric Ng, of Weehawken, who is assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), helped clean up Chorito Beach in Asan-Ma'ina, Guam during a community service project. Benfold is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

SDA honors Florida High School victims

Saint Dominic Academy and the Jersey City community gathered together on March 14 to honor the victims of the Parkland Florida high school shooting and other acts of violence with a prayer service that was student driven.  The service was written and coordinated by members of the Student Council, National Honor Society and Peer Ministry Team.  The service opened with a brief narrative and was followed by a candle-lighting where each of the 17 victims were identified by name and a short description. That was followed by a moment of silence and an ending prayer.

Caribbean Carnival honors 2018 grand marshalls

On March 9, the Jersey City West Indian Caribbean American Carnival Association, Inc. welcomed the Grand Marshals Class of 2018 to the family at the annual Meet and Greet Reception at the City of Jersey City Efrain Rosario Memorial Caucus Room.

Among the names of those announced included the Isle of Jersey City's Michael Billy Bosogno, Tony A. Goodson, Nicholas "Nick" Jayme, Tommy Parisi, Councilwoman Denise Ridley, Councilman Jermaine Robinson, Robert "Bobby" Stewart, and Dauod David Williams, Hudson County Freeholder Joel Torres, Hudson County's Former Councilman Philip Kenny, Freeholder Caridad Rodriguez, and Paul Silverman.

Kearny resident participates in service trip

Kara Truskolawski of Kearny was among 55 University of Scranton students who participated in six domestic service trips, organized by Campus Ministries' Center for Service and Social Justice, over spring break.

Students helped the following service organizations: Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, California; Maggie's Place in Phoenix, Arizona; Hurricane Harvey Relief in Houston, Texas; St. Michael's School in St. Michael, Arizona; Christian Appalachian Projects in Kentucky; and the St. Bernard Project in New Jersey.

Truskolawski, a senior occupational therapy major in the University's College of Professional Studies, volunteered at St. Michael's School in St. Michael, Arizona.

Students in Phi Kappa Phi honors scoiety

The following local residents were recently initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at Fordham University: Milton Bravo, Smriti De, and Victoria Jutrowski of Jersey City, Serena Gergenti of West New York, Indiana Grimes of Harrison, and Mutlu Uzumcu of Guttenberg.

HCCC's night at the races

The Hudson County Community College Foundation's 16

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Annual "Night at the Races" fundraiser will take place on April 6. Horse race betting and world-class food will be available for attendees and HCCC students will benefit with scholarships. The event is open to all.

The trotters' race event will be held indoors at the Meadowlands Race Track, Pegasus East, beginning at 6 p.m., post time is 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $125 each and must be purchased in advance. The ticket price includes admission, general parking, racing program, TV monitors, pari-mutuel windows, guest seating, and a  buffet of fresh salads, appetizers, hot entrees, pasta stations, and dessert tables.

Hoboken native in ship-handling training

Ensign Karen Quiles, of Hoboken, participated in ship-handling training on the bridge of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). The ship-handling training allowed junior officers, under the instruction of qualified officers, to gain hands-on experience in maneuvering methods that are used during various at-sea operations and response scenarios. Bonhomme Richard is operating in the Indo-Pacific region as part of a regularly scheduled patrol and provides a rapid-response capability in the event of a regional contingency or natural disaster.

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