Newark, NJ – September 3, 2010 – Mayor Cory A. Booker announced today that the City’s “Bicycle Tour of Newark,” will hold a 25-mile non-competitive bicycle ride through all five of the City’s wards, on Saturday, September 18, 2010. The rain date is September 25. Check-in and registration for the event will start at 7 a.m. on the steps of City Hall, at 920 Broad Street. The event will also include a 5-mile Family Ride through Newark’s Downtown, which is suitable for families and children aged 8 to 14. The tour and Family Ride will both start promptly at 9 a.m.

“I am looking forward to leading Newark residents and visitors on a grand tour of our sacred City. I commend our Recreation team and our partners for their dedication and commitment in creating this tour. Newark has a long and celebrated history as a center of cycling. We are restoring that tradition as we revitalize Newark,” said Mayor Booker.

The 25-mile course will take riders through Newark’s neighborhoods past major landmarks through all five wards of the city. The tour will end at the corner of Broad and Green Streets in the City’s Downtown. The tour will include a regrouping point at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart Cathedral on Clifton Avenue and a rest stop at the Boylan Recreation Center at 916 South Orange Avenue in the City’s West Ward.

The “Bicycle Tour of Newark” is free and open to the public. All riders must wear protective helmets. Anyone under the age of 18 must have consent from a parent or guardian. All children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The first 150 cyclists to register will receive a free bike helmet. T-shirts will also be given out while supplies last. Rest stops, snacks, beverages, and a full police escort will be provided along the route. There will also be a drawing to give away brand new “TREK” adult bicycles.

“The Newark Bicycle Tour is helping us restore the history of cycling back to its historic site, Newark, and also propels our city to become environmentally-conscious and family-fit, leading the race in America for healthy communities,” said Acting Recreation Manager Cathy Lenix-Hooker.

Team Newark, a healthy lifestyle and fitness project initiated by the Harbourton Foundation in partnership with the City of Newark’s Division of Recreation/Cultural Affairs, is one of the main sponsors of the bike ride. Additional co-sponsors include Newark Now, Brick City Bicycle Collective, East Coast Greenway, and Newark Amateur Radio Society, Inc. 

“Team Newark embodies our belief that healthy individuals create healthy communities,” said Jason Regan of the Harbourton Foundation. “We hope that this initiative will help re-ignite the historic bike culture of Newark.”

To help prepare cyclists for the 25-mile tour, the City is offering organized Pre-Tour Training Rides led by experienced cyclists, every Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the Weequahic Park “Horse Track.”

For more information on Team Newark, visit their website at www.TEAMNEWARK.org. Team Newark can also be followed on Twitter @teamnewark or on Facebook.

For more information about pre-registration for the Bicycle Tour of Newark you can call the Division of Recreation and Cultural Affairs at (973) 733-6454 or the Newark Non Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.  You can also go to www.NewarkBikeTour.com.

Newark, NJ – August 20, 2010 – Mayor Cory A. Booker and Deputy Mayor of Economic and Housing Development Stefan Pryor announced today that the City of Newark in partnership with the Hackensack Riverkeeper will be offering Newark Riverfront Boat Tours for Summer 2010 this weekend and next. A complete list of dates and times are listed below.
 
“Our city exists because of its river,” said Mayor Booker. “It is the reason that people came to this place: Native Americans, European Puritans, American Industrialists, and the Great Migration of African-Americans. But for too long Newarkers have been alienated and blocked off from their riverfront. My administration is dedicated to bringing Newark and Newarkers back to the water.”
 
The riverboat tours travel over six miles along Newark’s riverfront twice a day. A Hackensack RiverkeeperCaptain will discuss the riverfront’s past and future history with participants. The tour highlights the riverfront’s natural beauty (egrets, cormorants, and herons), active industry (metal recycling to mattress manufacturing), monumental structures (Pulaski Skyway and the “Little Orphan Annie” bridge), Downtown Newark and several neighborhoods.
 
“Under Mayor Booker’s leadership, the City of Newark has reengaged with its historic waterfront,” said Stefan Pryor, Deputy Mayor for Economic and Housing Development.  “This year, we will construct the first section of Newark Riverfront Park – a three acre space that will contain a walking and biking trail, a floating boat dock, a riverfront boardwalk, and settings to rest, picnic, exercise, and learn about the environment.  This past spring, Essex County announced the public acquisition of 12 acres of riverfront land in the Ironbound, bringing us a step closer to our future vision for our waterfront: a network of riverfront parks stretching through the Ironbound, Downtown, and up into Lower Broadway and the North Ward.  Thanks to City Waterfront Planner Damon Rich for his orchestration and skill, and to our County partners and other collaborators, who have made our initiative possible.”
 
“We’re happy to be once again partnering with Newark Riverfront Regeneration on what I’m sure will be a another successful season of Eco-Cruises on the Passaic,” said Captain Bill Sheehan, the Hackensack Riverkeeper. “Weather permitting, we could even double the number of folks we took on the river last year. The boats are comfortable and the company is always great. Plus it’s a real honor to help introduce the sons and daughters of Newark to their river; and to share some good times on the water.”
 
The tours and other innovative outreach and constituency-building programs have been funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. Hackensack Riverkeeper is providing boats and their captains.
 
"The movement to reclaim Newark's riverfront begins with people seeing it with their own eyes. Last summer, over 200 Newarkers experienced their city by boat. This summer, 400 will do the same. That's how the curious become advocates for their neighborhoods and their city, and how we will continue to build momentum and win victories to create the riverfront that Newark wants,” said City of Newark Urban Designer and Waterfront Planner Damon Rich who will lead the tours.
 
In order to participate in this two-hour boat ride, individuals and groups must make a reservation by calling the City of Newark’s Division of Planning at (973) 733-3917 or email newarkriverfront@gmail.com. Seating is limited.  Boats can accommodate up to 15 people per trip. The first boat ride will leave at 9 a.m., returning at 12:30 p.m., and the second trip will launch from the dock at 11 a.m., returning at 2:30 p.m.
 
The City of Newark, partnered with the County of Essex and the Trust for Public Land, have secured funds to construct the first phase of Newark Riverfront Park, the city’s first true riverfront park. Using a site owned by the City, the County, and the State of New Jersey, Lee Weintraub Landscape Architects and Hatch Mott MacDonald Engineers have developed a 7-acre plan based on residents’ ideas and desires. Secured funding sources include the Urban Enterprise Zone, NJDEP Green Acres and HDSRF Program, Essex County Open Space Trust Fund, NJDOT I BOAT NJ Program, NY/NJ Baykeeper, and private sources. The plan includes a walkway/bikeway, lawns for relaxing, a boardwalk, and a floating boat dock. Development of the site will begin with environmental remediation of the former industrial parcels, followed by the creation of park facilities, including a public access floating dock, a riverfront trail, and new plantings. The project will be enhanced with improved pedestrian connections to the surrounding Ironbound (East Ward) neighborhood. The park will also include the first portion of the Joseph G. Minish Riverfront Trail, a long-term project to create a pedestrian promenade along the length of the Passaic River in Newark.
 
In April 2010, Mayor Cory A. Booker, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., East Ward Council Member Augusto Amador, and other dignitaries announced that Essex County acquired 12.33 acres of property in Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood which will be redeveloped into the Essex County Riverfront Park. This would be the fourth new park added to the historic Essex County Park System during the last four years.
 
To learn more about this and other Newark Riverfront events and initiatives please visit www.newarksriver.wordpress.com. For information about any City of Newark program or policy, contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.
 
-NEWARK-
 
Contact:          Newark Press Information Office: (973) 733-8004
                        E-mail: pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us
 
About the City of Newark, New Jersey
Newark, commonly referred to as Brick City, is the third oldest city in the United States and the largest in New Jersey, with a population of more than 280,000 people. Newark sits on one of the nation’s largest transportation super-structures including an international airport, major rail connections, major highway intersections and the busiest seaport on the east coast.
 
With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival. In population, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the northeast. Its six major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The production of affordable housing has doubled, businesses are returning and crime is going down. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission: to set a national standard for urban transformation.
 
About the Newark Riverfront Regeneration
Newark Riverfront Regeneration (NRR), an initiative of the Newark Department of Economic and Housing Development, aims to regenerate Newark’s riverfront to bring concrete benefits to the City of Newark and its residents. Since 2008, NRR has built support for Newark’s riverfront by taking hundreds of people on boat and walking tours, hosting dozens of outreach events, organizing design education programs for youth, and staging a City Hall exhibition. This year, in partnership with the County of Essex and the Trust for Public Land, the City of Newark will begin construction on the first section of Newark Riverfront Park, containing a walking and biking trail, floating boat dock, riverfront boardwalk, and other settings for relaxation, picnics, exercise, and environmental education.
 
About the Hackensack RiverKeeper:
Founded by Captain Bill Sheehan in 1997, Hackensack Riverkeeper, Inc. (HRI) is the citizen-steward of the Hackensack River. HRI works for the protection, preservation and restoration of the Hackensack River and its 165 square-mile watershed.  Over the years, their advocacy and action have resulted in the protection of over 12,000 acres of wetlands, woodlands and waterways from the New York line to Newark Bay. HRI fights for public access and the creation of new parks. Their legal victories include a $500 million court-ordered cleanup – just across the bay from Newark.  Hackensack Riverkeeper is well-known for its environmental education programs. Each year from May through October, Captain Bill and fellow Captain Hugh Carola conduct Eco-Cruises aboard the vessels Robert H. Boyle and Edward Abbey on the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers; and Newark Bay. HRI also conducts regular River Cleanups, monitors public officials, and maintains an active legal presence in the region. Visit www.hackensackriverkeeper.org or call (201) 968-0808 for more information.
 
For more information on the City of Newark, please visit our website at www.ci.newark.nj.us
 
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cityofnewarknj
 
 
SUMMER 2010 NEWARK RIVERFRONT BOAT TOUR SCHEDULE
 
Saturday, August 21
9 am – 12:30 pm
11 am – 2:30 pm
 
Sunday, August 22
9 am – 12:30 pm
11 am – 2:30 pm
 
Saturday, August 28
9 am – 12:30 pm
11 am – 2:30 pm
 
 
 
 

Harrison-NJ, July 21 2010. Red Bull Arena hosted today the Barclays New York Challenge beginning Thursday, and the four clubs participated in a press conference today at Red Bull Arena that was streamed live on NewYorkRedBulls.com.  Representing Sporting Lisbon was: Paolo Brito & Daniel Carriço.  Representing Manchester City will be: Roberto Mancini & Gareth Barry.  Representing Tottenham Hotspur was: Harry Redknapp & Robbie Keane.  Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe and a Red Bulls player also participated.  World Series of Football president Stuart Webb  and press officer Tom Caraccioli hosted the press conference.

New York Red Bulls, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Sporting Lisbon compete in the first soccer tournament at Red Bull Arena.  On July 22, the New York Red Bulls take on Tottenham Hotspur at 8:00 PM ET.

Belo Horizonte, July 10 2010. A Brazilian goal keeper, whom police named a prime suspect in the disappearance and murder of a woman said to be his former girlfriend, has refused to answer questions on his alleged involvement, police said Friday.

Investigators in the state of Minas Gerais said Bruno Fernandes Das Dores de Souza, who played for Flamengo football club, orchestrated the murder of Eliza Samudio, 25. Her body remains missing a month after her disappearance.

Minas Gerais police investigator Wagner Pinto told reporters Thursday that Souza watched as Samudio was asphyxiated, mutilated and eventually fed to dogs. He said the details surfaced during a confession from Souza's 17-year-old cousin.

During the alleged confession, the cousin details how he worked with two of Bruno's friends -- Luiz Henrique Ferreira Romao, nicknamed "Spaghetti," and former policeman Marcos Aparecido dos Santos, known as "Bola." Both men have been arrested in connection with the investigation.

"They tied her hands, and this other individual strangled her," Pinto said, referring to Santos. Later they deboned and disemboweled her," Pinto said.

The woman's body was taken to an undisclosed location where her remains were fed to several Rottweilers, police said.

The cousin told investigators that he witnessed Souza watching the entire incident, Pinto said.

Souza's former attorney, Michel Assef Filho, told reporters Thursday that "Bruno has only said that he has no knowledge of the facts, he is astonished and scared by his cousin's testimony and that's it."

Filho stopped representing Souza when the Flamengo Club suspended Souza's contract, as the attorney works on behalf of the club.

His new attorney, Ercio Quaresma, said Souza, Romao and dos Santos deny all accusations.

All three are being held at a high-security prison in Contagem, Minas Gerais, after they were escorted from Rio de Janeiro in a police-chartered jet.

Souza and Romao were taken to the Minais Gerais police department for questioning Friday morning. Both refused to answer questions, a police spokesman told CNN.

So far, seven people have been arrested in connection with the case, including Souza's wife, Dayane.

The football star was last seen with Samudio in June as they headed for his country home in the state of Minas Gerais. Officials in Minas Gerais are still searching for Samudio's body.

On Thursday, the Flamengo Club stated it "is not involved in any way" with the case. The club said it is suspending Souza's contract "until all the facts" are known.

Source: CNN.com

Watch CBS News Videos Online

New York July 1th 2010. Here is your chance to find out the basics of acting techniques and how to use specific strategies to sharpen your skills. Learn how to work monologues and scenes. Fully experience what is to be present on stage and connected to the audience by practicing awareness, focus and connection between body and mind. This work is based on practice and discussions of different techniques ranging from Stanislavski, Suzuki Technique, View Points, Choreographic Theatre, Hatha Yoga, Meisner, and Roy Hart Technique for the Voice, and many other theatre influences. Participants must be 18 and up with or without experience. Classes are taught in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Any level of experience is welcome!

Wear comfortable clothes (NO JEANS), bring water, notebook and pen

When: July 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th
Where: Brazilian Endowment for the Arts

Mondays from 6:30pm to 10:30pm
$140 for the whole month (16 hours of work, $35 per class)

For more information and to register call 212.371.1556 or e-mail bibliobrnyc@gmail.com

Debora Balardini (Performer, Movement Researcher, Producer)
www.deborabalardini.com
www.nettlesartists.com

Newark, NJ – June 30 2010 – Mayor Cory A. Booker will be sworn in for a second term during an Inaugural Ceremony which will take place on Thursday, July 1, at noon at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center located at 1 Center Street.

Elected with a clear mandate for change, Mayor Booker has begun work on realizing a bold vision for the city. Newark’s mission is to set a national standard for urban transformation by marshalling its resources to achieve security, economic abundance and an environment that is nurturing and empowering for individuals and families. Mayor Booker is the third person to govern the city since 1970 and was re-elected to a second term on May 11, 2010 after a sweeping electoral victory.

Additional information for Media Only:

* There will be press availability with Mayor Booker immediately after the inauguration ceremony in the Parsonnet Room.

* Media must RSVP to the Newark Press Information Office at (973) 733-8004 or via email to pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us.

* Valid media credentials are required. If you do not have media credentials, please contact the Newark Press Information Office.

* Media parking will be in the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Arrival Court on Center Street. 

-NEWARK-

For more information on the City of Newark, please visit our website at www.ci.newark.nj.us

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cityofnewarknj

 

New York, June 27 2010. Brazilian Day in New York will celebrate the Brazilian heritage on Sunday, September 5, Labor Day weekend. On its 26th anniversary, the festival will feature distinguished names of the Brazilian culture, like Carlinhos Brown and Zeze di Camargo & Luciano, and many other special guests. The participating singers will surely make a lot of noise and celebrate Brazil along with 1.5 million people. Stay tuned and don't miss it !

The festival began to celebrate Brazil's Independence Day. Since 1984, that small celebration has only grown, up to the point of ((attracting over 1.5 million people in 2009)), according to official information from NYPD.

People come from as close as Connecticut and as far as California. Perfectly bonding with the diverse population of New York City, people also come from Europe, Asia and Africa, to join the festivities. Some travel in groups, by bus, some fly in, and others simply drive hundreds of miles. No one wants to be left out of this party, which is now considered ((the world's biggest Brazilian event outside Brazil)) and one of the Big Apple's greatest ethnic events.
 
The organizers of Brazilian Day, The Brasilians Newspaper, The Brazilian-American Cultural Center (BACC) and TV Globo Internacional, are expecting a record number of participants for the 25th celebration.

There are no precise estimates of how many Brazilians live nowadays in the United States. However, the Brazil Information Center (BIC), a non-profit poll organization based out of Washington, D.C., estimates that there are over a million Brazilians throughout the entire country. Of those, 300 thousand live in the three-state area of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. The NGO also estimates that 100 thousand alone live in the Queens area, in New York.

In this way, the Brazilian Day festival is not simply a party celebration; it has become an opportunity to reach out for the Brazilian community in the United States. On that day, Brazilians join each other from different parts of the world, many coming from Brazil just to attend the festival, show their pride, advertise their culture, and live their nostalgic and anonymous feeling of being an immigrant away from home.

Furthermore, they consolidate their presence in the United States bringing the Brazilian popular warmth, rich music heritage.

Newark, NJ – June 10, 2010 – Mayor Cory A. Booker, Director of Child and Family Well-Being Maria E. Vizcarrondo, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Deputy Commissioner Dr. Susan Walsh, New Jersey Apple Seed Health Care Reform Director George Hampton and the Greater Newark Healthcare Coalition hosted the first Primary Health Care Provider’s Summit yesterday at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

“Providing residents with quality affordable health care has been a central pillar for my administration,” Mayor Booker said. “In these challenging economic times, we must find ways to reduce the financial burden of health care costs, particularly for un-insured or under-insured residents. This alliance presents an opportunity to engage existing primary care physicians in a network that values primary care physicians and other providers of care as the core of quality healthcare delivery and will take advantage of the newest technology to achieve this goal. Such a paradigm shift manifests our City’s national leadership in both the use of cutting-edge technology and in improved coordination of quality health care.”

The summit themed “Local Primary Care Opportunities & National Health Care Reform” focused on creating the architecture of an integrated system of patient-centered health care and medical homes, with an emphasis on implementation of health information technology, creating a secure database and data that will guide model development in delivery of healthcare while concurrently providing the infrastructure necessary to manage the health care of the northeast regional population. The development of these databases and related systems will enable health practitioners and organizations to provide quality, effective health care to patients for improved health outcomes, and save millions of healthcare dollars in unnecessary or duplicative services.

“It’s been exciting to see how urban centers, like Newark, are coming together with organizations that have long provided great health care to address issues like health care reform and health information technology which will impact a whole continuum of care from preventative to hospice. I credit Newark for its leadership role in organizing a coalition which is focused on addressing these issues,” said Deputy Commissioner Dr.Walsh.

Director Vizcarrondo is the Chair of the Greater Newark Health Care Coalition and said, “We are uniting the many health care professionals and organizations in the City of Newark to achieve our common goal: of providing the best quality and most affordable possible health care to all of our residents,” said Director Vizcarrondo. “We are looking to re-define, re-engineer, transition and transform the health delivery system as it exists, to make health care in Newark and the greater Newark area coordinated, efficient and cost effective based on the identified needs of the populations to create timely access with improvements in quality of care in delivering such services.”

Director Vizcarrondo added, “We are really focusing strategically on how do we address the fact that a City like Newark has a dearth of primary health care providers and we are trying to see how collectively how we can have a bigger impact and reach of that particular primary health care needs in the City through these strategies of having the electronic medical records, patient information system, and helping all of our providers to be able to, both, afford and have access to those tools to help them do a better job.”

The mission of the Greater Newark Coalition is to look at having a collective effort in the City of Newark to re-engineer, redefine, and redevelop health care access for all the residents of the City of Newark. The coalition is made up of local hospitals, fairly qualified health centers, our health department other health professionals that are coming together a putting together a collective strategy that will address any of the initiatives coming down in regards to health care reform.

“Because of what’s happening in Newark with St. James, St. Michael’s and Columbus hospitals, it became important to join in with the city of Newark and members of the health industry to make certain that we change the way health care is ultimately delivered in the city and in the greater Newark area. As a result, this coalition was formed and we have been involved with the coalition from its very inception in a variety of initiatives till this day. Health information technology is one of the reasons why we are here today. Today we pulled a variety of primary care physicians and others to talk specifically how we can improve primary care for this Greater Newark,” said Mr. Hampton.

The Coalition will focus on attracting and retaining more primary health care physicians in the City and making sure that there is access to quality care for all of the residents of the City of Newark. The Coalition will also connect local providers to information technology resources.  In fact, today’s summit really is our first approach at working with our private providers to show them the technology that is available right now to be able to have patient information transfers if necessary, be able to do all of their billing as a result that process but showing them that tech has to be built into quality health care, and that it really doesn’t have to be that hard, and that we are here to facilitate that process.

“This is a historic day. For too long we have not focused on the needs of our primary care physicians and the challenges we face as local health care providers. The Greater Newark Health Care Coalition has determined that the foundation of a redesigned healthcare delivery system is through primary care.  It is our primary care physicians who are providing comprehensive health services that improve outcomes and reduce costs.  I’ve been a primary care physician in the City of Newark for more than 28 years. It’s time that we come together to design a solution for adequate healthcare reform for our community,” said Dr. Tom Ortiz, who is a founding member of the Greater Newark Health Care Coalition and Chair of its Provider Subcommittee. Dr. Ortiz is the founder and Medical Director of Forest Hill Family Health Associates and is the first Latino President-Elect of the NJ Academy of Family Physicians.

The summit is a partnership between the City of Newark’s Department of Family and Child Well Being, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center/St. Barnabas Health Care Systems, University Hospital/UMDNJ, St. Michael’s Medical Center/Catholic Health East, Forest Hill Family Health Associates, Urban Primary Care Physicians Association, Visiting Nurses Association, New Jersey Appleseed, Seton Hall Health Law Project, Newark Community Health Centers, Prudential, the DCFWB as a local public health entity and the DCFWB HRSA Homeless Healthcare Project and other health organizations.

“My responsibility is to use New Jersey high technology as a vehicle for educating at least 5,000 doctors, in the state of New Jersey, in the usage of electronic health records during the next 24 months. This will require a massive effort across the state, principally in North Jersey, where our targeted population is to really assist primary care providers and give primary care to underserved, uninsured, lower income and senior citizens and all of the people who are clustered together in this metropolitan area. I think the Mayor is visionary in his commitment to this important healthcare issue,” said William J. O’Byrne, Executive Director for New Jersey Health Information Technology Reason Exchange at NJIT

“I’m really excited for this opportunity to meet other primary car physicians and be the initial part of the Obama Health Care Initiative. His vision for primary care physicians, especially for non-reserved areas so I think it’s a very exciting time for us to asses our needs and our needs to serve the community. I think right now we are in a crisis mode because the needs are over whelming but the offices and the staff is just extremely understaffed to meet these needs so if we can meet together as a group and try to coordinate a more efficient way to deliver health care. I think our communities are at extreme risk right now,”said Dr. Sushama Srivastava. She has been a Primary Care Physician at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center for about 15 years.

Newark is one of a few municipalities nationwide that provides uninsured City residents access to affordable, quality healthcare. In addition, the City’s partnership with Heinz Family Philanthropies has resulted in Newark RX and Newark Health Plus, which provide discounted prescription drugs and access to primary medical care. Additional extensive services include, but are not limited to, pediatric care, an adult medical practice, communicable disease control and prevention, a dental clinic, a LEAD prevention program that provides a continuum of care including inspections, abatements, case management and interim housing, health care for the homeless, and a WIC program. These services are largely supported by local, state and federal funding including philanthropic organizations, such as the world-reknowned Kresge Foundation, which has contributed $1.5 million in funding to support the City of Newark’s “Getting the Lead Out” initiative.

For more information about any City of Newark program or policy, contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.

 

-NEWARK-

 
Contact:          Newark Press Information Office: (973) 733-8004
E-mail: Pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us
 
About the City of Newark, New Jersey

Newark, commonly referred to as Brick City, is the third oldest city in the United States and the largest in New Jersey, with a population of more than 280,000 people. Newark sits on one of the nation’s largest transportation super-structures including an international airport, major rail connections, major highway intersections and the busiest seaport on the east coast.
 
With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival. In population, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the northeast. Its six major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The production of affordable housing has doubled, businesses are returning and crime is going down. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission: to set a national standard for urban transformation.

March 21 2010, BRIDGEPORT CT. The Brazilian, Latin American and North American communities will be joining for a memorable all-day soccer event on May 23 that will feature the Brazil Masters team facing the Bridgeport All-Stars.  Bridgeport Soccer Fest 2010 will begin at 9 a.m. at Central High's Kennedy Stadium and last until 8 p.m., serving as a fund-raiser for Chile and Haiti. The Brazilian team will bring together former World Cup soccer players Zinho, Vampeta, Reinaldo, Ronaldao, Nenem Futebol de Areia, Donizete Pantera, Jairzinho, Mauricio, Junior Baiano, Careca, Ricardo Lopes and Lira.

A tribute will be paid to three soccer champions -- Pele, Jairzinho and Zico -- who will receive awards from the city of Bridgeport. Children's, teenager's and women's games will also be played, and there will also be music and dance entertainment from local groups as well as from a Samba and Carnival band featuring Brazilian singer and composer Waguinho do Cavaco. Admission is $20, and tickets are on sale now at ticketweb.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Newark, NJ - April 23, 2010 - The City of Newark, the Newark Environmental Commission, and the Newark Bears partnered to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day last night, at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium, before the evening’s home opener against the Camden Riversharks. Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium located at 450 Broad Street.

“It has been a goal of my administration over the past four years to provide quality parks and recreation in every ward and neighborhood. In addition, my administration has adopted eco-friendly practices and policies, to address global climate change. Our Earth Day programs will unite our administration, our non-profit partners, and our residents in an alliance to create a cleaner and greener Newark,” Mayor Booker said in a statement. “I urge all residents to join us on Earth Day. Together we can help save our planet and build a stronger, safer, prouder City.”

“The Bears look forward to doing our part, joining the Mayor and Council, and continuing to lead by example.  Our organization will continue to use this great venue to show case important causes and projects.  This celebration of both Earth Day and Bears’ Opening Day is a chance to promote our Green initiative and start the drive for yet another Bears Championship Season,” said Bears Baseball LLC Senior Vice President Tom Cetnar III.

The activities began with an “Earth Day Dialogue” at 3:30 p.m., in which residents were able to learn about “green” programs and share their ideas and concerns with Newark environmental and business leaders. The first 200 people to attend received a free tree sapling.

“Together with residents, businesses and community organizations, in Newark we are greening our homes, greening our neighborhoods, and greening our local economy. We are meeting global goals of carbon reduction by creating climate prosperity - already, more than 1,000 homes have been weatherized, and more than 40 businesses enrolled in cost saving energy programs. Together, we are making a difference,” said City of Newark Sustainability Officer Chelsea Albucher. She works closely with the City’s Environmental Commission and municipal departments to advance policy, programs and partnerships to enhance environmental health and advance economic development.

At 5:45 p.m., the City and the Bears honored Newark’s “Green Leaders” on the field, saluting business, non-profit, and community organizations that are working to “green” Newark. A list of organizations is attached.

“Newark needs the support of every resident in the battle to protect our planet and its environment. By acting locally, we make an impact globally. I urge our residents to learn about our recycling, ‘green’ construction, weatherization, and other environmental programs, to share them with family, friends, and community, and make ‘going green’ and Earth Day part of their daily lives. I commend all the community partners who have come together for today’s celebrations as together we ‘Green’ Newark,” said Deputy Mayor for Neighborhood Engagement Margarita Muñiz, who presented the awards.

“We are literally building a ‘green’ Newark by encouraging environmentally-friendly construction methods, practices, and developers in our City. Doing so make both environmental and economic sense. ‘Green’ construction will help protect and improve Newark’s environment, and provide jobs and career opportunities for Newark residents in these growing fields. So our ‘green’ programs are a win-win situation for all Newark residents, and I encourage all of our residents to get involved, and help keep Newark ‘green,’” said Director of Public Safety Anthony Campos.

In addition, thanks to support from the Edison Innovation Foundation, residents were able to donate old electronic equipment at the Stadium to the Urban Renewal Corporation for recycling. The first 100 persons who did so received a discount on their ticket to the evening’s game. These donations are tax-deductible, and will benefit the City of Newark’s Re-Entry Initiative. For more information on Newark based donation sites, contact Urban Renewal at (973) 268-9873.

“Our community and environment are on the precipice of critical times. With over a billion computers and electronic waste needed to be recycled over the next decade, it’s time to be creative. Urban Renewal has created a program that trains formerly incarcerated and economically disadvantaged people to recycle, repair and refurbish used technology.  We are committed to making a positive change for our community and environment,” said Lane Jacobs, CEO of Urban Renewal Corporation.

The celebration at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium was the highlight of “Earth Month” in Newark, which is offering residents a variety of “green” activities, including tree-planting, gardening workshops, and seminars. The culmination of the month’s activities will be held on Arbor Day, on April 30, when Mayor Booker and Governor Chris Christie will join 13^th Avenue School students and volunteers in Newark’s West Ward to plant more than 150 trees. A list of city-wide tree-planting dates and locations is attached.

“Greening Newark is about our well being, it is about our making our homes and neighborhoods better, safer, healthier. Greening Newark is about our future, it is about our children and our children’s children.  Getting involved is creating your legacy. Planting trees are a wonderful symbol of Newark's commitment to ensuring a vibrant, prosperous Newark,” Council Member-at-Large Donald M. Payne, Jr. said in a statement.

“Every Newarker has the right to a clean and healthy environment where they live, work, and play. I encourage everyone to take action. Together we can realize healthier neighborhoods, vibrant businesses, and create jobs. Going Green will not be done by the City alone. It takes the participation of each and every one of us. The Environmental Commission has information about how you can get involved, by greening your home, greening your neighborhood and greening our economy,” said Kim Gaddy, Chair of the City of Newark’s Environmental Commission.

Some of the programs planned for Earth Month in Newark include the following:

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    ·       Tree-planting across Newark in April and May, in partnership with the Newark Renaissance Tree Program. Contact: Shannon Buckley at (609) 439-1755, or visit their website at www.newjerseytreefoundation.org

    ·       The Greater Newark Conservancy making Flower Barrels available. Contact: (973) 642-4646 or www.citybloom.org

    ·       Gardening Workshops, hosted by the Greater Newark Conservancy, in April, May, June, and July. Contact: (973) 642-4646 or www.citybloom.org

    ·       The New Jersey Environmental Federation Annual Conference, set for the Rutgers University Center for Law and Justice, on Saturday, April 17, to discuss environmental health and justice issues facing New Jersey. Contact: (732) 280-8988 or http://cleanwaterfund.org/feature/2010conference

    ·       Essex County Environmental Center Earth Day on Saturday, April 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center will offer activities, tours, demonstrations, and free snacks. It is located at 621 Eagle Rock Avenue in Roseland. Contact: (973) 226-6082

    ·       The Trust for Public Land’s Park Leadership Forum, on Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Central High School. The theme is “Connecting Schools, City Agencies, and Communities.” Central High is located at 246 18^th Avenue.

    Contact :(973) 718-7338, Ext. 105, or donna.Kirkland@tpl.org