Peruvian Art takes center stage at the Paterson Museum

September 16,2010

Peruvian Art takes center stage at the Paterson Museum

By Orville Morales

To be seen in print in Passaic County Pulse

                September 15^th marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, witch is the , as it coincides with many anniversary of independence for various Latin American Countries.  Although Peru independence was in July, it was Peruvian culture that was celebrated on Sept. 16^th at the Paterson Museum.  

On this pleasant evening, the Esquiche family which included Miguel, his sons Katiuska, Richard Miguel and Ronald Esquiche, introduced the audience to Peruvian culture as depicted by the artwork created by Miguel Esquiche.  They also had musical renditions of folk music with instruments such as the Siku, or an Andean panpipe where demonstrated.   

Another aspect of this event was the stunning presentation of the Danza de las Tijeras (scissors dance), which is a historical dance that is identified with impressive visual dress and great skills of gymnastic movement in rhythm to the music while holding in one hand a set of disconnected metal scissors and playing a tune to the music.   

Very talented Scissor Dancers

Miguel Esquiche shared, “My paintings and artwork are the products of the blood that runs through my veins as a legacy of my ancestors, the native Peruvians.  Each portrait represents a link of the immense chain that unites all natives of the Americas, links that will keep multiplying throughout time.” 

The artwork displayed throughout the Museum’s art gallery where vivid depiction of the indigenous peoples life which included representations of their beliefs such as the Duality of Paracas as dualism is a concept believed by ancient Peruvians of the existence of dualism in their world: Sun;Moon, Man;Woman, Good;Evil, Cold;Heat, Earth; Water, etc.  

Duality of Paracas by Miguel Esquiche

The artwork will continue to be displayed until Oct. 15^th.  

               

Sept. 7th, 2010 City Council Workshop Meeting

This particular workshop was riddled with special presentations. So here goes my bullet points of information:

1)      The first one was with United Power Energy Consulting which is a company that helps corporate entities choose from whom to purchase their electricity and natural gas from and to do so at cheaper rates than what the company pays for now.   It also provides consulting on different technologies that the City can use to save money and become a more Environment Concious City such as building solar panel farms on government buildings or using sewar water to heat buildings rather than natural gas (sounds disgusting but there is actually a cool science to this).   Even School Board Commission Jonathan Hodges was interested as seeing solar panel farms on school rooftops would provide a great source of education for the kids.  Now the cost?  Supposedly nothing….As too good to be true as this sound, the company offered to do a free energy audit of the city to see where such savings can be found.  DPW, the Green Team, Councilman Sayegh and Benjie Wimberly will be tasked to follow up on this audit.  

2)      The next session was a consultant hired by the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development that Paterson had only committed 11.8% of the $2.26 million grant it received last year.  Unfortunately there was no conversation as to why this was the case because there was a huge sense of urgency to make a decision: they had to make the Paterson Housing Authority into a sub-recipient, which means they get the money directly (because they were originally the developer and the City the recipient). This way they wouldn’t have to give the unused money back.   Supposedly there was an 18 month deadline since Paterson received the grant and the Torres administration did not follow through.  Check out a detailed article at northjersey.com website for more information about this matter.

3)      The above matters took most of the night that Council President Goow decided to table many ordinances until the next workshop session on Sept. 21st such as the Environmental Commission sponsored by Councilman Sayegh, Tavarez and Wimberly,  a referendum to propose holding Municipal Run-Off Elections in Paterson sponsored by Councilman Tavarez and other items.

This writer left at 1030pm and they were still discussing items.   I promise next time I will do better. Ill touch base next week!

City of Paterson Memorial Ceremony 9-10-2010

Never Forgetting 9-11

Sept. 10^th, 2010

By Orville Morales

As seen in print in the Passaic County Pulse

Mayor Jeff Jones, with two of our brave Marines, providing opening remarks  to the Memorial Ceremony

The overarching message of this day was expressed most succinctly by Mayor Jeff Jones when he said, “Today is a peaceful morning, with the sound of life going about its day, please remember that the tranquility that you hear does not come free”.  The City of Paterson hosted a 9-11 Memorial Ceremony on Sept. 10^th, 2010 at the New York Susquehanna Western Railroad Plaza at Ward Street and Railroad Avenue, in Paterson, NJ.  It was a ceremony for the public to join together in a day of prayer and remembrance of all the innocent people such as Paterson’s own Kenneth Lira, a 6^th ward resident who lost their lives during the 9-11 attack. He was only 28 years old.   

It was also a day to remember those brave service men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives to respond to the tragic emergencies of 9-11 and fight and die for our right to live in peace and with freedom.  As the message was clear today, that freedom does not come free.

The program included words of condolences and support from Congressman Bill Pascrell, Mr. Anthony Vancheri, president of the Paterson Veterans Council, a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem by soloist Ms. Brenda Mickens and the laying of the memorial wreaths from the Paterson Police Department, EMT Association, Paterson Fire Department, in remembrance of their fellow servicemen lost on that day.  

Each department head such as Deputy Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management Rhonda Thompson, Carlos Pagan of the Fire Department, Steven Olimpio, PBA President and Paterson Police Department Detective and Police Chief Wittig all gave a brief reminder of the most difficult moments our country has had to bare on that tragic day of 9-11. 

Marina Arvelo, mother of  fellow Patersonian Kenneth Lira, who passed during the attacks on 9-11

Finally, in what may be the most emotionally charged moment, we heard the words of Marina Arevelo, mother of Kenneth Lira, who expressed in tears how much she misses her son and how grateful she is to all those who fight and lose their lives to defend our freedoms.  Rev. Kenneth Clayton offered us his invocation and benediction throughout the event.  

Although few of the public were present at this memorial ceremony, we stood in silence and remembered how often we take for granted the simple freedoms we enjoy in this country, even as a thin film of smoke filled the air as Paterson Fire Department responded to a fire no more than 3 blocks away.  This event was certainly a reminder for this writer and all others that our freedom does not come free, and thank you is not enough for the men and women of our military, police, firefighters and all those who put themselves in harms way to protect us day in and day out.   Mayor Jones reminds us that “we must remember the peaceful silence because it is precious and it does not come free”. 

PEOC Rally at Hazel and Marshall Street in Paterson

Parents demand promises be kept
By Orville Morales
September, 7 2010
Corner of Hazel Street and Marshall, Paterson, NJ
*This article will be seen in Print in the Passaic County Pulse

Mayra Perischi-Concerned Parent and member of Paterson Education Organizing Committee

Paterson-It is a beautiful afternoon day on the 1st day of school for Paterson Children. It is a time where they get a fresh start in their new classes, meet their new teachers and in some cases, even wear new uniforms to school. It is a day full of hope for parents and children alike. While some parents picked up their children from schools, other parents, community leaders, and school staff gathered outside the abandoned school construction site on Hazel and Marshall streets to protest budget cuts in the FY 2011 budget that they say have led to overcrowded under-served school and could compromise arts, music, and language classes.

Henry Sosa, community leader, parent and member of PEOC

 Community leader and co-organizer of this rally Henry Sosa says, “Legislators passed the Governor’s awful budget this year and look at what’s happened! Whether it’s music class or foreign language instruction, Trenton’s budget cuts have limited our children’s opportunities and compromised the quality of their education. This budget may leave no millionaire behind, but what does it do for our kids?”

As the participants of the rally shouted “Parents United, Will Never Be Defeated” or “Education not Incarceration”, “Budget Cuts, Christie Got To Pay”, many driver-bys slowed down honking their horns in support of the parents cause.

Speakers also maintained that many Paterson schools are overcrowded as well as under-served because of the current administration’s refusal to fund school construction. They pointed to the construction site on Hazel and Marshall Street as an example. Originally approved in 2003 and included in the 2008 capital plan, construction was halted by the School Development Authority in January of 2009. Parents noted that nearby School 9 serves 1000 students in a building originally designed to serve 800, and that last year’s average class size was 32, well above the 24 pupil-per-classroom limit recommended by state law.

Unfinished Construction Site on Hazel and Marshall street

School Board Commissioner Chris Irving, who was present during the rally, felt that “This rally is about a state that does not value Paterson Children. How can you start a project, give a community hope for the education of their children and then drop the project and deny quality schools from being provided?

Rosie Grant of Paterson Education Fund echoed the sentiment by expressing that “kids are in overcrowded schools when they are in need of their already approved schools”

As seen on NJSpotlight.com, the Christie Administration approves $270 Million in Facilities Grants for School Districts; however, upon reviewing the selected School Development Authority/Abbott school construction list, Paterson was not one of those cities to receive funds. Thus begging the question that these passionate parents want answered, why were our children promised new schools in 2008 but left behind in 2010?

This rally was organized by the Paterson Education Organizing Committee, a chapter of the Statewide Education Organizing Committee and a member of the Better Choices for New Jersey Campaign.

Better Choices for New Jersey is a coalition of over 75 organizations that fights for alternative revenue solutions to budget cuts that impact working families.