Coach Speaks Out About Problems at Hoboken Boys and Girls Club
After recent suspension, the longtime employee says he's doing it for the sake of the kids.
Photos
The Boys and Girls Club in Hoboken has serious issues, said longtime counselor and basketball coach Mike Mincey. He said there’s not enough building security, there are mouse droppings on the first floor and the Kool-Aid the kids drink is prepared in a storage closet that reeks of cleaning products.
“It just breaks my heart because we could be so much better,” said Mincey, 45, who was suspended from his job for a week earlier this winter.
Mincey, a lifelong Jersey City resident, has worked at the Boys and Girls Club on Jefferson Street for 12 years. He was suspended from his job with pay for a week in early January, after a parent filed several complaints against him, he said.
After rules for the recreational basketball draft were changed, the parent’s teenaged son was not selected to be on Mincey’s team and was chosen for another team. When the boy came to pick his sister up at the club, Mincey asked him to wait in the game room, since Mincey’s team was practicing tactics the players would use against the boy’s team. “We laughed about it, me and him,” said Mincey. But the parent was not happy. She confronted Mincey in the club’s gym, multiple sources said, and the next day, filed the complaints, Mincey said.
“He’s good with the kids,” said Connie Viruet, a parent with two kids at the club. “He knows how to control them. He knows how to discipline them and punish them the right way and make sure they do well. They need that.”
Basketball practice was cancelled for the week Mincey was suspended. But he was welcomed back after an investigation into the incident by Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hudson County Gary Greenberg. Greenberg said he never lost his confidence in the coach and Mincey didn’t lose much that week. “The very next game, he was back,” said Greenberg. “So, they never really missed a beat in terms of games.”
Now that he’s back, Mincey—who coaches four basketball teams at the Boys and Girls club—said his suspension is not his reason for speaking out about problems he sees at the Boys and Girls Club.
In addition to his concerns about security and unsanitary conditions, Mincey said homework is no longer a focus at the club. “As an afterschool program, we should be dedicated to helping these kids with their education,” said Mincey. “That should be mandatory, but it’s not.”
After HoLa, a dual language charter school for kindergarten through third grade, started subleasing the second floor of the club almost two years ago, Mincey said the club kids lost the rooms where they used to do their homework. He said now they have to manage to concentrate in rooms where there are noisy activities happening at the same time.
“Kids do homework in the gym, in the game room, where there’s video games going on, music,” Mincey said. “There’s no isolated spot for them to do their homework.” The classrooms are still there, he added, but the desks are too small for many of the club kids.
Greenberg countered that homework is still very important at the club, and that some clubs in Hudson County have a program called Power Hour, when all other activities shut down so the kids can do homework.
HoLa programs and activities have also taken gym time away from the club kids, said Mincey. “If they want to do PTA, if they want to do movie night, if they want to do anything, they can do it during our time,” he said. “Our time is from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. No one should be able to interrupt our time.” He added that when HoLa kids come into the gym during club hours, club kids have to move to one half of the court. Mincey said he has offered to include HoLa students in his basketball practices, but HoLa has refused.
“They don’t want to be with us,” said Mincey. “It’s like a separation of classes, I see. They don’t want their kids with our kids.”
President of HoLa’s Board of Trustees Jennifer Hindman Sargent said that’s not true and that one of HoLa’s employees even organized an afterschool theater program that included a few of the club kids. “We try to find ways to mix the groups in the afternoon," she said, "when it is feasible in terms of age groups and logistics.”
But, Hindman Sargent added, it’s more difficult than one might think. “There’s no time for casual mingling,” she said. “It has to be planned.”
Hindman Sargent said that HoLa kids are in the gym at the same time as club kids once a week during a physical education enrichment program the school organizes. The overlap is 30 minutes. She also said that the school created its own basketball team after city’s department of recreation asked it to because so many HoLa kids signed up. “So, we scrambled, and one of our parents is coaching,” said Hindman Sargent, but the team does not normally practice in the club gym.
She also said that she is not concerned about HoLa’s security. “When we are there and we have students there, our security is fine,” she said. She added that reception has a camera and everyone must be buzzed in during school hours. After school and on the weekends, she said, she understands that the Boys and Girls Club has someone monitoring the building. Mincey said he’s usually the one to stop anybody who comes inside.
Sargent said she’d heard about the mouse droppings. “Over Christmas break, I think the regularly scheduled cleaning didn’t happen,” she said, “and a lot of garbage was left in the building.” She said the mice must have found a way in, but the problem has been solved. She also said that an exterminator visits the building on a regular basis.
Mincey said he’d also like to see the club kids get healthier snacks. “We give out Kool-Aid and Rice Krispies Treats,” said Mincey. “It’s sugar on top of sugar. I would rather just go get a jar of peanut butter and jelly or lunch meat or wheat bread or even buttered rolls and juice.”
Greenberg said the club tries to give out healthy treats. “I know that we do the best we can in giving them nutritious snacks,” he said. And as far as allegations that the Kool-Aid is being prepared in a closet where cleaning supplies are stored, Greenberg said he has no idea why that would be happening. “I know there is a beautiful kitchen,” he said.
Both Greenberg and Sargent said they thought the relationship between the school and the club was going well. Having the school on the top floor, said Greenberg, has created a great resource and an opportunity to serve more people in the community.
Groups of parents and local charities have recently worked together to raise money for improvements to the building. The bathrooms on the first floor were renovated during winter break, and plans are underway for a teen center on the first floor. The building also got a new roof about two months ago, Greenberg said.
Greenberg said he’s not sure why Mincey has come forward with complaints about the club and that Mincey had not mentioned them before. Greenberg said the club tries to help as many kids as it can and that he and Mincey both see the children as the first priority.
However, Mincey said he believes the children at the Boys and Girls Club are not getting what they deserve, and for that, he will fight. “I will argue,” said Mincey. “I will get upset over my kids being slighted.”
Hoboken Answer
8:14 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Separate but equal, that's fine. "“We try to find ways to mix the groups in the afternoon," she said, "when it is feasible in terms of age groups and logistics.”
They have to try? Really? Because a public school came in and took over a taxpayer paid facility. There's a lot more to this story.
Nice to see Amanda Staub back. Another terrific job by her. This one is only scratching the surface, but the vault is now opened.
Grafix Avenger
9:01 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Yes, HA. it is disgraceful... in fact this has been on my radar for awhile. This is about class and race.
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2011/08/two-cities.html
magnus
9:19 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
I hate waking up in the morning and reading fake news. The complaints here are absurdly minor and pretty flagrantly contrived. For example have there been actual security problems or does the coach just think that there ought to be more security just in case? The basketball coach thinks that the kids don't get healthy enough snacks and that's news? This guy is obviously pissed off that he was suspended and maybe he shouldn't have been but he didn't get suspended just for having a closed strategy session for his team like the story implies. There's no way of knowing what the parent's full complaint actually was but it surely was a whole lot more serious than that given the disciplinary action taken. There may or may not be real problems at the club, but this story is a pretty feeble attempt to make that case. Is this is all the anti-hola people have got? Maybe tomorrow morning I'll wake up pissed off at my boss and Patch will write a story about it and then I'll feel better!!! I don't know if there's anything in the "vault" but this story sure ain't shedding any light on any kind of scandal.
Redrider765
9:29 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Magnus, the problem most of us have w/ HOLA is that it has effectively taken over control of the B&G club facility. The city didn't provide that building to the B&G club so a charter school could move in. It is supposed to be for the B&G club and the impoverished kids that organization provides services to. Since the building is still owned by the city, I think it is past time the city see what legal remedies it has and that it step in and require HOLA to vacate the building.
nice try
9:22 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sargent gets an A+ for coded language. Is separate but equal the Hola motto? And it's hardly equal for the HBGC kids. The bottom line the HBGC is getting pushed out by a charter school. What happened to their hot meal program? Did it conflict with Hola's after school cooking class? Perhaps Patch can investiagte how Hola board member/school trustee and school $ contributor Frank Raia end up with the construction contract for the renovations?
Lane Dastardly
9:57 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Hola has been operated as an elitist club by it's well connected parents for some time
HobokenTownie
10:08 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
This is awesome - people are arguing that one publicly funded entity is elitist and is being forced out by another funded public entity. Seriously, this is like a Nancy Pelosi calling Al Frankin a neo-con. Since my kids do not receive benefit from either of these programs, what benefit does my family receive?
“They don’t want to be with us,” said Mincey. “It’s like a separation of classes, I see. They don’t want their kids with our kids.”- This guy is a piece of work.
***Why are kids even drinking Kool-Aid? Is this coach teaching them how to get diabetes? My children drink water and mile, but a basketball coach is allowing these kids to drink Kool-Aid.
Redrider765
11:14 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Well, your family by helping poor kids at the B&G club stay off the streets, be active, get their homework done, etc.. benefit over the long term w/ hopefully those kids will end up doing better in school, they'll be more likely to graduate & move on to bigger & better things. Beats completely neglecting them as kids and having them be more likely to fall through the cracks.
HobokenTownie
11:32 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
@Lane - the public schools in this city have been terrible for years. When a school attempts to be a top performing school it is viewed as an "elitist school". Seriously, the sad but true fact is that these "elitists" push their children and want them to excell. Don't you want your kids to go to school where the elitists push their kids and get the most perks? Sorry, but life is not fair.
Can you explain why the public school system was failing for so many years? Rehtorical. i am sure you have a reason and you will blame someone. How about some accountability on the parents in the failing schools, or are we in full denial that the parent has no responsibility if they are poor?
@Red - that has been the argument for years and we still see the same cycle.
Redrider765
12:06 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
We will always have a large population of poor people in this town b/c of the HHA. That will never change. And the need for somewhere for those kids to go like the B&G club will likewise never go away. Completely sucks that HOLA is completely willing to throw those kids under the bus the way they have.
pied piper
1:41 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
With all due respect, there are many many public school parents who "push their children and want them to excell." They however don't necessarily "want their kids to go to school where the elitists push their kids and get the most perks?" The Public schools in general have much more perks than private and charter schools. Further,They are fully cognizant of the mulitple studies of academic successes and choose the Public School curriculum, amenities, senior experienced staff or whatever other reason for their particular child (children).
Because you or anyone else choses to place their child (children) in a school based on "wanting kids to go to school where the elitists push their kids and get the most perks" doesn't mean the public schools are not meeting the needs of their student population nor does it mean you are wrong to make choices that you feel are important to your family. There are a great many children who are succeeding wonderfully in the public schools, charter schools and private schools.
http://hoboken.patch.com/articles/whiz-kid-multitasking-master-karen-palacios
Lane Dastardly
3:42 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
@Hoboken Towwnie - The commment by Hoboken Answer below mor or lesss sums up my view on this matter
Hoboken Answer
12:11 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The city owns the building. Taxpayers are giving the building to the Hoboken Boys and Girls Club for $2 a year to serve the underpriviliged youth of the fourth ward, many of whom live in challenging conditions in the HHA.
In moves a charter school taking over a good amount of the facilities, creating a "separate but equal" dominion over the place. People working at the Boys and Girls Club have been afraid to go on the record to discuss these matters. Now the logjam has been broken. It hardly matters the circumstances as to why.
Supporting charter schools is one thing. Subsidizing one elitist group of favored residents while pushing out the children the building was given to serve in the first place yields a whole host of problems.
Or perhaps some favor the separate but equal doctrine from Brown vs. the Board of Education in a slightly altered form? Some of us don't and find the use of taxpayer paid facilities in addition disgraceful.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v._Board_of_Education
Again, Amanda Staub deserves a ton of credit for breaking this story and Hoboken Patch for recognizing its importance.
HobokenTownie
12:39 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thanks Thurgood Marshall, but if there was any credit to this argument someone would have sued someone about something in this litigous society. Unfortunately, your argument is a way to make a racial issue out of a nonracial issue. If I am correct, HOLA is the Spanish dual language school. Isn't Spanish the language commonly used by the second largest minority group in the country?
-Or- is your argument that the white conquistadores from Spain are the elitist group tthat thought it would be a good idea to have a dual language school.
Personally, the school should be teaching Madarin because China is going to dwarf this country in the very near future and we should be prepared to compete on many levels.
Cry racism and you silence a critic.....time and again.....sue the board of end if you think you have a meritorious claim!
Hoboken Answer
1:23 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
@ the Townie
There's two damaged parties: the underprivileged children of the fourth ward and the Hoboken taxpayer. Who exactly would litigate on the behalf of the children? They are the ones being moved aside to benefit the politically connected with a school that had no right to access their space to begin with.
As for the taxpayers, that's an open question and from what I hear the City is trying to navigate it without litigation.
HobokenTownie
1:50 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
@Hoboken Answer - "Who exactly would litigate on the behalf of the children? They are the ones being moved aside to benefit the politically connected with a school that had no right to access their space to begin with."
Seriously? Brown v. BOE was a class action in the fall of 1950. Members of the Topeka, Kansas, chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) agreed to again challenge the “separate but equal” doctrine governing public education.
Let's see there is the NAACP, ACLU........I guess they think the Children of the B&G Club v. Hola v. Hoboken BOE is too much of a slam dunk -or- there is no merit to your baseless allegation.....
pied piper
2:18 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Just a point of clarification:
The BOE? BOE does not control Charter Schools.
Charter schools are completely independent from any BOE. Charter schools are primarily funded by local municipal tax dollars, are responsible only to the county superintendent who is responsible to the commissioner of education at the NJDOE (New Jersey Department of Education).
Any such lawsuit (as you are suggesting) would have to be directed at the NJDOE. They are the entity that provides Charters to Charter Schools and the institution that oversees Charter Schools.
Hoboken Answer
3:16 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Since I don't work for the ACLU you can take the issue up with them yourself.
There is no accusation that is baseless, there is now someone who has come forward.
Others have been afraid to do so. Maybe you'd like to buy a clue now?
HobokenTownie
3:25 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
@pied piper - my point was directed more to the issue that if there was this great class war going on then someone should sue about the inequality.
@Hoboken Answer - all you see are problems, you provide no answers. I guess your handle is like my handle - like calling a fat guy tiny or slim...buying a clue? is this third grade now?
Hoboken Answer
3:31 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Oh I apologize Hoboken Townie, I didn't see the rules on providing answers to commenting here.
Rae
12:24 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Charter Schools need a home as well, and the concept of a Charter School using public space is not the problem.
The B&GC and HOLA should be working together to create group activities (30 minutes a week, and 1 movie night which included a "few" B&GC kids is not enough). It sets a poor example for the kids. If the kitchen and empty classroom space remain unused then B&GC needs to look to it's administrators. Greenberg and Mincey should talk and figure out, if the people in charge of snacks, are simply being lazy by taking product stored in a storage room, and prepping there instead of using the kitchen. Discuss which classrooms are available and whether there are chairs that can be brought in from storage/ the auditorium or elsewhere and set up for bigger kids. They should also discuss whether a "power hour" would be feasible in the main auditorium. So many kids are focused on becoming basketball stars that homework doesn't get the attention it deserves.
The mentality of school administrators has been "give them what they will eat", with the understanding that for many kids this may be the only treat they get during the day. There is also the fear that kids won't eat healthier foods. There are cheap healthy choice out there. Sugar doesn't help the ability to focus on homework. Look for healthier choices (Peanut Butter has allergy risk). Offer a nutrition fun day for kids or free nutrition calls for adults.
Great film on school system: http://www.thecartelmovie.com/
hobokenhorse.com
12:38 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
You raise some good questions. Da Horsey raised more on this last year and salutes Amanda Staub for her fine effort here. For the original story last August:
Mile Square View
http://hobokenhorse.com
Redrider765
12:45 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Yeah, well tell them to go get their own home and not displace a preexisting program that is serving some of the most disadvantaged and most in need of help. The charter school didn't need to set up shop there. Move them out already.
Hobbs
12:41 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
While i understand Tim Occhipinti would certainly be between a rock and a hard place considering Frank "Pupi" Raia brought him into the Boys & Girls Club to add some credibility to his pre-election political resume and Mr. Raia and his crew were among the Occhipinti's campaign chief vote gatheres in the HHA , as the the 4th Ward Councilperson he should at least try step up and mediate the seemingly major problems between HOLA Charter School and The Boys & Girls Club.
magnus
1:37 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sounds to me like you have two worthy organization struggling to share the same space. If the problems are limited to the minutia described in the article, then i'd say they're doing pretty well. If they need more space for both institutions to co-exist without a reduction in resources to either maybe they should look into building an extension - maybe add a couple of floors. A bigger building would probably solve all these problems and allow both institutions to effectively serve our children.
Redrider765
1:43 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
No, the problems go beyond this and have been reported elsewhere. HOLA has become a parasite that is slowly killing its host. They need to be moved out into their own facility where they cannot intrude on any other organization's ability to serve their constituents.
HobokenTownie
1:51 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
@magnus - "maybe add a couple of floors."
Not with my tax dollars!
magnus
2:38 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Who said anything about using tax dollars? The City's giving up the space for $2 per year according to a previous post. If the two organizations can't figure out how to coexist in the existing space then either one organization has to move out or they need to change the space so that they can co-exist. There's no reason they can't pay for an expansion themselves - long term tenants do it all the time and i'm sure both organizations have enough resources. Didn't another charter school just buy an entire building? Taxpayers didn't pay for that and they wouldn't have to pay to expand the club.
Just curious - is it the two organizations that can't co-exist or is it a bunch of people having nothing to do with either organization trying to trump up a fake issue for political reasons? If there's no outcry from either families actually using the club or from hola parents then who's doing the complaining? A few snarky remarks from a disgruntled employee does not a problem make.
Redrider765
2:49 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Yes, one organization needs to move out and it isn't the B&G club.
Redrider765
2:54 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Magnus, where do you think charter schools get their funding if not from tax dollars?
magnus
2:59 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Of course charter schools get their funding from tax dollars and one of the things that funding is for is to pay for space. If they need to expand a building to get enough space and it fits within their budget with whatever private fundraising they do then the expenditure is precisely what the tax dollars are intended for. I assumed the other guy was talking about city tax dollars but if he meant school tax dollars then the point is even more off base.
Redrider765
3:11 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
School tax dollars still come from city taxpayers.
I don't care about HOLA's need for space. They should have arranged for their own space before they started the school. That space is B&G space. If anyone should be getting the sloppy seconds and treated like 2nd class citizens in that building, it is HOLA. If that isn't good enough for the HOLA program then they can go rent some portable classrooms and go plop them down in a vacant lot.
magnus
3:21 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
you seem to have ignored the last paragraph of my post so I copied it in for you:
"Just curious - is it the two organizations that can't co-exist or is it a bunch of people having nothing to do with either organization trying to trump up a fake issue for political reasons? If there's no outcry from either families actually using the club or from hola parents then who's doing the complaining? A few snarky remarks from a disgruntled employee does not a problem make."
If and when family's actually using the club start complaining perhaps the conversation will be legitimate. Somehow I get the feeling that the complainers are mostly people with a political agenda who have never spoken to a single family that actually either attends hola or uses the club.
pied piper
3:22 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Boys and Girls club is undergoing an expansion- Frank Raia has been awarded the 100k contract for that expansion (the expansion was being done during the months that school was out and the boys and girls club summer program was going on).
How did a sitting (Hola) board member get awarded 100k contract to build that addition? Isn't that some kind of ehtical/nepotism violation?
Redrider765
3:30 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Magnus - if you think this is the first time people have complained about the shoddy way the B&G club has been treated, then you haven't been paying attention.
magnus
3:45 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
And what exactly does who got the contract have to do with the children? Answer: NOTHING!!! Feigning concern for poor children to pursue a political agenda or personal vendetta is nothing short of despicable. So I ask again - where is the chorus of voices from club families complaining that their children are being shortchanged?
pied piper
4:01 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Um, You brought up the expansion- I was confirming that the expansion was being done.
Karen O'Shea
3:09 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Redrider that couldn't be more true!
Hoboken Answer
3:19 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The space was contracted from the City of Hoboken to the Boys & Girls Club not a third entity.
Goldfish
3:39 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Boys and Girls Club essentially gets the space for free from the city. HoLa pays rent to the Boys and Girls Club AND has raised thousands of dollars to improve the space. If you really cared about the kids at the B&G club you would spend less time attacking HoLa and more time putting some pressure on City Hall to finally build the playground that has been in shambles for years and is now nonexistent.
pied piper
4:00 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Personally,Re: the Boys and Girls Club- I think this has more to do with the administration and voting board members of the Boys and Girls club than the charter school. The charter school is looking out for the best interests of their students (as they should be). The administrators and voting members should be looking out for the boys and girls club members- It appears that they aren't. It appears that the boys and girls club entity is making more and more money by leasing out the facility at the expense of their children. Very sad.
Ramos, Garcia,Occhipinti and Delea are all officials representing those children who are losing services and space. What is their view on this? Will they like many here, just blame the person who is concerned about what seems ot be some legitimate issue?
Re: Raia's contract- something just doesn't seem right about that.
Sting Ray
4:54 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
A huge part of the problem is the management/Board at the Boys and Girls club.
Sting Ray
5:08 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
They are renting the space not only to Hola (who is taking the lion's share,)
but to Zog Sports, a Hoboken Synagogue, as well as AA, and probably others. They are setting lowest priority to the children who are members of the Boys and Girls club. These are the children who are the most underprivileged. Who is overseeing Gary Greenburg and the board??
The B&G children used to get hot meals. My child was a member there. Every night, they would serve chicken with rice and beans, with milk, or chili, etc. They are now getting junk food and the kool-aid is being prepared in the slop sink. Yes, the slop sink. The the B&G club doesn't have access to the kitchen like they used to. They also have less staff. If the B&G club is taking in so much rent, why won't they feed these children? BTW, Mike Mincey is an excellent coach and the children respect him.
Hobbs
5:13 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
It is doubtful because of their political dependency on Frank "Pupie" Raia that Ramos, Garcia, Occhipinti and Delea would ever do anything against him.
Whithout Raia's money and connections the entire Mason, Russo & Co and their political aspirations for retaking the the BOE or City government crumbles into dust.
Perhaps that is why we don't see the Mason,Russo & Co, posters commenting on this or any question involving Raia.
Hobbs
6:09 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
And on que mangus tries to distract when Raia, Ramos, Occhipinti actions or lack of them are called in question. ;-)
Redrider765
3:43 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Not improving the space to benefit the B&G club. They have less use of the building than they used to have and complaints that activities that used to go on there have been severely curtailed. Move out already. Go get your own space.
pied piper
4:49 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
No DOUBT there are space issues:
http://holahoboken.org/?page_id=196
AFTERCARE
begins September 7, 2011, the first day of the 2011-12 school year.
Aftercare is provided by members of our faculty and our aftercare staff. Aftercare begins at dismissal and remains open until 6:00 PM.
AND seperate ENRICHEMENT classes:
HOMEWORK HELP: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 –GUITAR: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 – Patricio Batallas – ($150),
INDIAN DANCE: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 – ($75),COOKING: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 – Ms. Margarita Garcia – ($35),
CARTOONS: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 – BRICKS FOR KIDS: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 – ($180), .
MAGIC: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 – Hobby Quest – ($180),
DRAWING: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 – Course led by Jay Boucher – ($120),
SPORTS CLINIC: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 – Teacher led course by Coach Shyam– (FREE), 22 students
SIGN LANGUAGE: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 –
PHOTOGRAPHY: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 – Hobby Quest – ($190), 12 students
HOMEWORK HELP: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 –
TAP DANCE: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30, Ms. Shan Gettens – (FREE), 12 kids
TRAVELING TUMBLERS: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 ($130), 12 kids
FRIDAY (Classes held on 1/6, 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/24, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16 & 3/23)
MANDARIN: Grades K-3 – 2:45-3:30 – Ms. Jean Chao – ($95), 12 kids
SEWING: Suggested Grades 1-3 – 2:45-3:30 – Megan Avery – ($150), 8 students
Hoboken Answer
5:25 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
"The B&G children used to get hot meals. My child was a member there. Every night, they would serve chicken with rice and beans, with milk, or chili, etc. They are now getting junk food and the kool-aid is being prepared in the slop sink. Yes, the slop sink. The the B&G club doesn't have access to the kitchen like they used to. "
Forget that. What's important is that HoLa gets the City to update THEIR playground.
Redrider765
6:36 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Most people probably have no idea what a slop sink is. It is the laundry type sink where the janitorial staff usually dumps their dirty mop buckets & such. Not a sanitary place for preparing anything that is to be consumed, not even kool-aid.
QJ201
7:32 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
HoLa is a dual language school for elites? Is this so they can learn to be literate in their parents native language or so that they can talk to the family maid? Hoboken the land of brown women pushing white babies around.
HobokeLife
8:14 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
My children attend the B&G club for almost 4 years now and there has been a drastic change. Power hour was a quiet time to do homework,now I walk in to pick up my children and there is house music playing loudly. Before Hola was in the building my children were served hot meals, now they get rice crispy treats. I have witnessed plenty of times the making of the Kool-aid and asked why weren't they using the kitchen? There always a ridiculous excuse. It came to a point where I would just tell my kids and other members not to drink it! They are under staffed. The only true workers who care about the kids are Mike Mincey and Yvette Miles. Something has to be done! O thought segregation ended a long time ago. I guess Not!!!
Sting Ray
9:44 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The art room is locked, the kitchen is locked after 6 p.m. The kitchen used to belong to the B&G club. Hola has dibs now. What a waste. There isn't enough staff to even cook the food for the B&G children. The B&G children are cramped in smaller spaces with the older children mixed with the younger. What the hell was the Hola parent doing with the dog in the gym? Why are there separate after school programs, anyway? B&G club always had an excellent after school program. Oh, that's right, separate but equal. Even Zog Sports came in on a Sunday and pushed out about 50 kids playing basketball in the large gym. The place is overscheduled and rented out to the detriment of the local children. What are they doing with the rent money??!!
pied piper
10:20 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The art room and kitchen are locked? What??? That building is for the Boys and Girls Club children. Were these rooms locked before the new rental?
If the Club is making more money and they cut back on staff? Isn't the Boys and Girls Club's main focus supposed to be about helping kids in the Boys and Girls Club?
Why are kids crammed into rooms- didn't you guys have full rein over the building?
From what you seem to be saying, it seems there are quite a few charter school programs going on during the B&G club hours and that the charter kids take precedence over the boys and girls club children (as well as any other renter)? Who is looking out for the club's children?
This is really sad.
Redrider765
10:39 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Asking where the money is going is a very good question.
Hoboken Answer
11:02 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Not to worry folks, Timmy Occhipinti is on it. He's out scouring Jersey City for graffiti.
And Scott Delea is working hard planning his fourth run on someone's ticket to get a seat on Hoboken City Council.
Doing it on the backs of the poor underprivileged children don't ya know.
Kendra
11:22 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
I am a teenager myself, and I have known Mr.Mincey myself on a personal level, had several relations with
ever since the age of 4, and have participated on his recreational basketball team. I have also attended the Hoboken Boys and Girls Club ,since the age of 5, and left at the age of 10. Although, it has recently come under new management, I still believe it needs more improvement. It struggles in several areas, and if these changes were made it could be the best it can be.
Outofcontrol
12:18 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Everyone seems to be skirting a few glaring issues here. If the B&G Club is renting the space from the city for 2 dollars, why did the mayor allow the expansion to take place? Surely she could have taken the matter to court and regardless of the terms of the lease, any judge would void it for gross material defects. The mayor has been pandering to Hola since it opened and has done nothing to stop the Hola expansion. Zimmer has no problem acting tough when the constituency she is attacking is not particularly friendly to her politically, but when she sees an injustice being committed in the B&G Club, she turns a blind eye. Why is that? Probably because a fair amount of Hola parents are her supporters. I don't know if it's still going on, but up until a year ago, the B&G Club was also renting gym space to the Hoboken Charter School for a big chunk of money.
The situation at the B&G Club merits an investigation by the city and the taxpayers should get back the money that was collected from the Charter Schools.
The whole deal stinks: Sub-letting, no bid construction contracts, city hall silence. Someone needs to get to the bottom of these dirty little deals and fortunately PATCH has taken the first step.
pied piper
7:48 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
It seems that you are suggesting that the expansion was somehow illegal. If that is the case, it would seem that the lessee broke the terms of the lease.
From the posts here (illegal expansion, subletting/no-bid contracts) it seems like the Boys and Girls club is using it's children as a front to run a rental business and make some cash, on the resident's dime.
hobokenhorse.com
8:55 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Mile Square View has covered this story for a year now from January of 2010:
"Back in January, Da Horsey noted concerns were coming in on the marriage of the HoLa charter school and the Boys & Girls Club. It was suggested local media perform their role of oversight and look into those concerns coming in but no such luck.
As the months went by, the whispers grew larger with stories of the neighborhood dance group being bounced out and other programs being scaled back in favor of HoLa's creeping influence on the facility."
As for the City, MSV can say there are discussions and a review has been going on. Questions were asked months ago on this. We'll have that story but for the moment will say the City is trying to sort this out without seeing a legal wrangle the outcome.
Redrider765
8:58 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
There will be a legal wrangle. HOLA will not give up the space they have misappropriated w/o a fight. They just don't give a hoot about who they are screwing over to get "what's theirs".
cassandra
12:41 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
I yearn for the days when the quest for politcal power did not dominate every issue in Hoboken. How sad
hobokenhorse.com
8:59 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Let's not bring the Beth Russo hydra into this. But yeah, it's their suckups who are in on it.
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
George Orwell - "Animal Farm."
That's an old story in Hoboken or what you call "competent corruption." This is only the latest example with the latest victims.
Sting Ray
5:56 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
OOC, Hoboken Charter is renting only the gym for about the same price that Hola rents it for the entire building. The difference is that the Hoboken Charter doesn't cramp out the B&G club. Hoboken Charter uses it during the school day when the B&G club children aren't there. Your buddy Frank Raia, a Hola board member who holds the $100K construction contract for expansion of Hola, and Carmelo Garcia, Hola basketball coach and advocate (with his child in the school), provide the misinformation to city hall.
Matter of fact, Carmelo stated that the B&G Club dance class had "outgrown their space", so they were bounced over to the High School. It was actually Hola cramping out the B&G club's dance class and pushed them out to the High School. See what I mean by misinformation?
pied piper
7:37 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
HCA paid the same price as Hola?
HCS only rented one room during the school day vs Hola renting the entire building during the school day and after school, for the same price?
Who is minding the store over at the Boys and Girls Club and why did Hola get a what seems to be a sweetheart deal?
Carmelo Garcia and Ramos have their kids at Hola.
Raia got a 100k contract.
Is this just going to be another patronage mill for Raia and Co at the expense of the Boys and Girls club kids?
Sounds like some kind of collusion with the administration/voting members of the Boys and Girls club and the good ole boys network.
Occhipinti was an advisory board member at the Boys and Girls Club. Did he advise the club to accept this deal? Can he stand up for these kids and fix this issue?
This is a terrible situation.
v
10:11 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Hola is the underhanded ground zero of the anti-Kids First movement. Hey Raia, it's called a conflict of interest!!! Recuse yourself from contracting here!!!!
pied piper
11:42 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Personally, I don't think Most of the parents in Hola aren't aware that the Kids in the boys and girls club have been nearly but pushed out and have lost many of their resources becasue of the Hola rental nor that their board has unethical board members who engage in no-bid contracts, unfair lease agreements or any other nefarious things that have been going on. They are just parents who, like all parents want the best for their kids.
They probably have no idea what Raia, Garcia, Ramos and Delea have done in the past and are doing now. They just know that they have a nice school with great afterschool amenities.
The school board, on the other hand, know full well that they are paying around 40k a year to rent a building, while other Charter schools are paying close to 500k. They know somethings not quite right- but hey- if you can get a deal- why not?? right? If you keep your eyes, ears and mouth shut, who'll be the wiser.
That 100k contract to their sitting board member- that's another odd situation that board knows about. Guaranteed, most parents don't know much about that either.
pied piper
11:50 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
edit: meant to say some unethical board members- I am sure many of the other board members are not aware of whom they have gotten into business with.
loud&clear
6:08 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
I know for a fact that money talks bull walks. And the children at the B&G club gets to walk because the are not what you call paying customers. As for Mike he has spoken to me several months ago about the nasty cool aid issue and rice crispy treats you guys give out there. I don't give my kids things like that anyway. Especially not coolaid! But you guys need to address
the real issue s here that's going to have a resolution for these children! Hello!
CuriousGal
8:25 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Some excellent points have been made in this thread-- but let's not lose sight of these facts. Both the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club and the President of HoLa’s Board of Trustees are quoted as saying the relationship between the school and the club is going well. Specifically, that having the school on the top floor, has created a "great resource and an opportunity to serve more people in the community." As has been pointed out, the B&GC also rents space to other organizations in Hoboken including adult recreation, our synagogue, and other non-profit entities. Mr. Mincey's perspectives not withstanding, a journalistic investigation would show 1) no increase in any security related events over the past few years and 2) that the building has passed all health code inspections. Finally, the B&GC runs a very similar and successful arrangement in Jersey City with great community support.
Currently the B&GC facility is bursting with activity and a very vibrant and exciting place- I believe its mission of providing programs and services that promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence has remained and will continue to be a priority.
Redrider765
8:32 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Did you expect anyone to admit they are screwing over the kids over at the B&G club? Time for HOLA to move out. Enough of these inside deals and self dealing by the people running those 2 organizations. Move HOLA out.
pied piper
9:49 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Leave it to you to post this nonsense. The parents and workers are speaking out and asking for help. All you have to say, in essence is: "Nothing to see here, keep movin folks."
That's some kind of representation Occhipinti, Garica, Ramos and Delea are giving to those kids.
CuriousGal
12:04 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
pied piper/Redrider765 your propensity for hyperbole knows no bounds. A single, possibly disgruntled, worker who was suspended from work for a week complained to Hoboken Patch. Ms. Amanda Staab, a reporter for Patch, does little investigation into the matter before publishing this article --had she done so, she would have found no increase in number of security complaints AND a clean health inspection from the city for the building. But these facts evidently do not matter. What research Ms. Staab does do, finds BOTH the executive director of the B&GC and the Board Trustee President to be on the same page concerning the positive impact of each organization on the other.
I'm sure things are not perfect--but I am also sure that no one is "screwing over the kids" and protest is not coming from numerous "parents and workers." but rather a single individual. (sorry, anonymous bloggers don't count as parents) ;-)
Redrider765
12:09 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Like we care what the curiously obtuse enablers of corruption think of us.
Amanda Staab
1:57 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Curious Gal, I saw the mouse droppings for myself. No clean bill of health from the city would have convinced me that what I was seeing wasn't there. If you would like to go on record, please email me at amandastaab@yahoo.com and we can set up an interview. Thank you.
FAP
2:22 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The rare rebuke of real Journalism. Well played Ms. Staab.
p1ywood
2:39 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Thank you Ms Staub! At least this time the alleged operatives for the furthering of the career of Ms Beth Mason and the Old Guard are exposed for the hate-mongering distortionists they are!! For once they can't make things up, blog about them over and over again in the hopes that they are eventually percieved as real. What a great day! Going to have to write some new material prosbus and Curiousgal!
Bob R
2:52 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Oh, snap!
prosbus
2:52 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
It seems CuriousGal was simply making a statement about the building getting a passing grade by the health inspectors and that there was no support for the claim of increased incidents of security problems.
p1ywood
2:55 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
I love it! it looks like she's changing over to the "prosbus" screenname to defend herself in the third person. Priceless! Hoboken Questioner can't be far behind?
prosbus
3:01 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
and the advantage of that would be....??????
p1ywood
3:06 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Gee, I don't know "prosbus". Pick a screenname , log back in and continue your "consensus" building on that, too!
Hoboken1653
4:18 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
This is hilarious. Prosbus jumping to the aid of curiousgal. It's either hubby jumping to help the wife or the wife's personalities popping up again
ThisMeansWar
4:46 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Curiousgal, prosbus, and whatever other IDs you are using today... You insulted Ms Staab's integrity -"Ms. Amanda Staab, a reporter for Patch, does little investigation into the matter before publishing this article." She had the courtesy to reply directly that she had witnessed the mouse droppings herself.
You may log on as many times as you like or return the courtesy that was extended to you. Not holding my breath. But here it is just in case: amandastaab@yahoo.com
Redrider765
4:55 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
One of these days, it would be nice if some enterprising journalist tracked down how many SNs all post from the same IP address. Little hint for you there Amanda ;-)
prosbus
5:17 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
No insults took place--- CG made a statement about the building getting a passing grade by the health inspectors and that there was no support for the claim of increased incidents of security problems by the coach. Please, dial down the drama...
Redrider765
5:23 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Visible mouse droppings and kool-aid being prepared where the janitors empty their stinky mop buckets = public health hazard. Go ahead, keep pretending there is no problem there propuss, that is what you get paid to do.
p1ywood
5:29 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Oh come on now prosbus, pretend to be Hoboken Questioner or gettheledout44 now. You've already done a few posts as prosbus.
ThisMeansWar
5:31 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
prosbus we're not talking "took place" we're talking direct quotes: "Ms. Amanda Staab, a reporter for Patch, does little investigation into the matter before publishing this article."
That is an insult to the journalist's integrity, even in your world of infinite spin. It was DIRECTLY contradicted, to wit: "Curious Gal, I saw the mouse droppings for myself. No clean bill of health from the city would have convinced me that what I was seeing wasn't there."
You can try to make that sound like something other than what it is until the cows come home. But there are not 2 ways to interpret the action and reaction.
You can take it offline as graciously suggested by Ms Staab. Or keep trying to deny what everyone can read with their own two eyes. Honestly, where is the bottom with you two?
amandastaab@yahoo.com
Redrider765
5:33 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
GA - not sure you are right about who posts as what SN. Propuss and Curiouslyobtusegal's posts sometimes are authored by the same person. You can tell they are doing this when they start using the multiple hyphens instead of just one, a comma or some other means to separate thoughts/statements. This was pointed out by someone last week when they used Propuss's super secret grammatical analysis program to ferret out that the author of certain posts from different SNs was in fact the same person. That happened again today so my guess is propuss and curiouslyobtusegal are quite often the same person. My guess is the husband and wife team that post using multiple SNs consider those names to be community property and share them. Pretty dishonest practice IMO but guess the shoe fits considering who these people tend to carry water for.
Grafix Avenger
6:15 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Red, it's actually pretty easy to tell them apart- not just stylistically but in tone.
Let's say the condescension in the Mrs. is matched by the paranoia and creepy false-intimacy of the Mr.
Whatever it is, they're both wimps. Neither have the guts to contact Ms. Staub offline.
CuriousGal
7:38 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
ThisMeansNancy- you fail to post the full quote which continues with "....had she (Ms. Staab) done so, she would have found no increase in number of security complaints AND a clean health inspection from the city for the building."
My statement dealt with health inspection records and security/violence reports not of observations. Personally, I don't believe I would be able to tell what "droppings" look like as am not qualified or trained to make that type of evaluation (perhaps Mr. Mincey or Ms. Staab is?) whereas a health inspector certainly would be and subsequent report would confirm.
I apologize to Ms. Staab for any offense.
ThisMeansWar
9:29 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
I ain't Nancy cupcake. You couldn't be more of a phony. Much like your apology. The part of the quote that you have once again conveniently not addressed is: "No clean bill of health from the city would have convinced me that what I was seeing wasn't there." I'm sure you can get certified to be able to spot mouse crap someplace. You're certainly adequately full of the other kind. "Not qualified or trained to make that kind of evaluation"? What an ass.
CuriousGal
9:49 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
TMWnpGA: once again, I never questioned the observations of either Ms. Staab or Mr. Mincey. I simply said I wouldn't know droppings from anything else and that health inspection reports show no violations.
Enough of the sophomoric instigating spin on every word, ok cupcake?
FAP
9:58 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
You accused Ms.Staab of doing "little investigation" on her article which you had no basis to do. This accusation was not inadvertent and Ms.Staab rightly call you out on it. At least have the dignity to say you were speaking out of ignorance and apologize to Ms.Staab for this deliberate action.
.
There are too many journalists who don't do any investigation, when one steps up and does the job right they should be praised not subjected to rank attacks.
CuriousGal
10:06 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
fap) Again, health inspections show no violations. And security/violent incidents show no increase. Observations are certainly worth noting and recording as both Ms. Staab and Mr. Mincey have done. But observations and reports by licensed and trained professionals are publicly available and also contain useful information.
Grafix Avenger
8:03 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Curious Gal, did a "licensed and trained professional" inspect your smoke vent? Or was it the "39-year civil servant", Al Arezzo, you and hubby shill for now?
It looks awfully close to that window.
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2012/01/code-problem.html
johnsmith
8:51 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
so OOC would bankrupt the B&G club by making them give back all the rent money paid by the charters? Essentially killing the B&G club? disgusting.
pied piper
3:05 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Honestly, this seems to be pretty easy to fix. The Boys and girls clubs just has to bring things back to the way they were before they entered into their rental agreement.
During afterschool hours the boys and girls club is for the kids at the boys and girls club, as it was always intended.
Replace the staff needed to help cook and provide security, unlock the kitchen and art rooms etc...
The administrators/board members know what is needed. They just have to do it. It would be helpful if the 4th ward representatives (Garcia, Ramos, and Occhipinti)and b&g club advisors (including Delea) ensured follow through on this situation, to support the kids and bring back the porgram that they once had.
Hobbs
3:14 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Fordetaboutit ....Garcia, Ramos, Occhipinti and Delea will NEVER do anything to go against their HHA vote harvester.
johnsmith
3:08 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
disgusting that CG wants people to ignore conditions at the B&G club. At least now it will be fixed.
Redrider765
3:30 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
What does a rat care about mouse droppings? lol
CuriousGal
7:45 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
never said anything about ignoring conditions----just wanted to try and tone down the drama
Lane Dastardly
8:44 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Tone down the dramma meaning what? stop people from calling you out on alll the screen names and nonsense half-truth comments?
Geri Ceballos
5:41 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
I love how this guy is flagrantly lying!!! Wanna know why...because I'm that parent who placed the complaint against him...and i will tell you because I was there...that NO...my son did NOT laugh at the fact that in the middle of a gym packed with young players and parents he said to my son...BYE!!!! at which point i proceeded to ask him AFTER practice what was the point of that considering I was there and my 2 children were participating in the practice...his response was to curse at me...hey Mike...next time...own your actions!!!
Sting Ray
9:20 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
I had my child there for several years and never heard Mike curse. You are a liar and a fraud. Your other child couldn't join that practice because he was on another organized team. Your child understood that, but it was beyond your comprehension so you took a flying fit.
CuriousGal
9:58 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Sting Ray- You are an anonymous blogger. That's about all we know of you.
p1ywood
10:13 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
And curiousgal, what Sting Ray has to say is of no use to your political agenda so s/he must be discounted or twisted. That's all we know of you.
CuriousGal
1:36 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012
I neither discounted nor did I twist-- I simply stated a fact. You can take it from there. Which you obviously did....
Redrider765
9:01 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Well we all know Curiouslyobtusegal and her many names aren't anonymous any more.
Journey
2:32 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
We all suspect who you are C.Gal. but we don't know, all you are is an anonymous blogger.
Consider the wisdom of throwing stones when you live in a glass house.
Journey
2:33 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
We also have no proof that Geri Ceballos is who she says either, it a strength and weakness of the internet.
Khoboken
6:35 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Well if it is GC posting, then she is a shrew of the upmost degree that does not even live in Hoboken, but scams the system to have her kids in school here. BTW, there was more than one witness to her tirade and screaming snit fit who saw nothing but HER being the uncouth foulmouthed aggressor. Mama $5 a Tow Russo lite, but not by much.
Redrider765
7:14 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
The schools really need to do something to police the residency requirements much more tightly.
Raymond Latimer
1:29 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Hoboken Boys and Girls Club deserves credit for almost 90% of H.H.A Youth upbringing going back almost two decades. I grew up with out parents and role models. Let alone guidance. Mr. Mincey help me out alot gave me hope that one day i would have parents, have role models and guidance. I'm not ashamed to admit it The Hoboken Boys and Girls Club was my outlet to my terrible life. I promise you i'm not the only one the cilub helped. The club wasnt just occupied with hha residents. The club was occupied with children and teenagers all over hoboken. We meshed together there. I'm pretty sure everyone remembers when nobody was allowed in hha, unless you were a resident. The club fix that with everybody coming together or how about when there were fights every weekend consisting of jersey city and hoboken?? Who fix that? Mr. Mincey Faithfully took us to The Jersey City Club were we would play along side with the same people who were coming down the previous month's to brawl. He fix that! Even though we all outgrew the club we all have a part in the club. I remember one year we had The " Steak Em Dinner' never been to a formal let alone dinner in my life. Had a tie but didnt know tie it. The Boys and Girls CLub Tought Me. Hell taught others that day too. Remember like yesturday. Still Have the Picture. I havent given the club enough credit , that club was my home we held sleepovers, that i actually didnt have a place to go because both my parents were locked up.
johnsmith
1:55 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Your story and many others like yours are why it is so important to make sure the B&G club is proivding that same experience to the kids there now.
HobokenTownie
1:58 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
I wish my children had a place like this to go to for free. It is like a reverse country club that excludes the majority of the community.
Redrider765
2:18 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
I think any child can join. I don't think it excludes anyone.
Grafix Avenger
2:44 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Mr Latimer, you touched my heart. Folks don't know how many of the kids there truly need the kindness, the attention, the looking after, inc. warm meals, that the B&G provided. And caring individuals like Mr. Mincey make all the difference to young people trapped by circumstance. Things have to get better for the B&G. HoLa was only supposed to occupy the building for 2 years- it's in their charter.
ThisMeansWar
3:23 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Townie all you have to do is get yourself and your wife sent to prison and your kids will be just as lucky as Mr Latimer.
johnsmith
2:08 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Isn't it open to anyone? or any kid I think. If you mean you, I bet they would welcome a volunteer. You think it sounds like a "country club"?
Journey
2:39 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Here is some tv dialog about the internet and identity...
Xander: No, it's just... this Malcolm guy? What's his deal? I mean, tell me you're not slightly wigged.
Buffy: Okay, slightly. I mean, just not knowing what he's really like.
From Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "I Robot, you Jane."
Xander: Or who he really is. I mean, sure he says he's a high school student, but I can say I'm a high school student.
Buffy: You are.
Xander: Okay, but I can also say that I'm an elderly Dutch woman. Get me? I mean, who's to say I'm not if I'm in the elderly Dutch chat room?
Buffy: I get your point. I get your point! Oh, this guy could be anybody. He could be weird, or crazy, or old, or... He could be a circus freak. He's probably a circus freak!
Xander: Yeah. I mean, we read about it all the time. Y'know, people meet on the 'Net, they talk, they get together, have dinner, a show, horrible ax murder.
Geri Ceballos
4:55 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
@khoboken...unfortunately you are being fooled...i haven't been the 1st person to complain abt this person...and i may have been foulmouthed...which is not something i have denied btw...but that was a reaction...you can think what you like...believe who you may want to believe...you can even insult me if that makes you feel any better...but you do not know me to think that that tirade as you was was unprovoked...fortunately...my son knows the truth...i certainly know the truth...and most importantly...HE knows the truth...and if lying makes him feel better abt what hapnd...he can go ahead...
Khoboken
5:04 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
No suprose that you admit to be a foul mothed shrew. Impossible to deny. As to who was at fault, I trust the people that were silent witnessess to you becoming unhinged and foaming at the mouth. In front of other children. Definitely not cool. whatever disagreement you may have had with the man, NOTHING justififed what you said and did that day. NOTHING! BTW, Do you live in Hoboken? Simple quesion. Why avoid the answer? Just remember, the kids in your sons' class know where you really live.
Geri Ceballos
5:26 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
lol...as i said...if it makes you feel better to insult me...go ahead...like i said...you do not know me...you clearly do not know what happened...and i need not answer any of your questions because they are not relevant to you...it is unfortunate that children were there...but you can blame Mike for that who purposely provoked a reaction out of me...while i need not apologize to you for my behavior...i do admit my faults and i have apologized to those who i've seen around who were unfortunately a witness to what happened...that is not who i am unless provoked and those who know me...including many of the children who were there who do know me since i have always been a supportive parent...know that...now you can continue your tirade against me...i am not bothered...like i said...i know the truth...my son knows the truth...and so does he...
Grafix Avenger
5:48 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Geri, I was approached separately yesterday and this afternoon about this by 2 dads, both of whom have sons on Mike's team.
One was a witness to the incident and the story he relayed to me was very different than yours. He felt very uncomfortable with the scene you were making and took his son out of the building. He and his son heard you screaming from where they were standing outside in the street.
Both fathers expressed what a wonderful figure Mike is in the lives of the many children he coaches- I was told that he presides over 40-50 children at a time, not exactly an easy thing. I was told that he's strict, but when the game is over he tells the kids how well they did, and shows them he cares. Many of these kids don't get that kind of validation at home. He has made a huge difference in the lives of so many children.
it is unfortunate this happened. You write above that Mike "provoked a reaction out of me" which sounds like you are taking some responsibility for what occurred. So that's good. Time to move on and see how to make things better for the kids at the B&G Club.
Khoboken
5:38 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Still blaming anyone but yourself. A non apology apology. I'm sorry but he made me do it. Typical. Lack of self awareness is a symptom of low self esteem and intelligence. Both of which you are lacking by the barrel.
Geri Ceballos
5:47 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
clearly the person lacking intelligence here is you...if you actually read what I wrote you will see that i did admit my faults...and apologized to the appropriate ppl...the problem here is the lie...but you are too busy attacking me to see that...so you can continue...but i will not lower myself with back and forth banter with you...enjoy your continous tirade...i am not affected...i simply wanted to make note of the flagrant lie...
Redrider765
6:35 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Is one of your faults that you are deceiving the Hoboken BOE, sending your kids to school here and sticking the people of this town w/ the bill? Simple question, one you still haven't answered.
Passkey
5:48 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Anyone else see a pattern here? It goes as follows: A) Zimmer/KF gets caught being anything but open, transparent, competent, etc... B) Bloggers/KF/Zimmer supporters put out attacks belittling or questioning the source of the initial report or ad hominem attacks on anyone who criticizes KF C) Said controversy hopefully recedes, and KF/Zimmer wins points among its committed followers for standing up to the forces "assailing them"
Geri Ceballos- when they make personal attacks at you then it means they have nothing of substance to say.
Redrider765
6:23 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Asskey - copy and pasting the same cow manure over and over again every time you get ripped a new one is not a winning strategy. It is just you repeating the same old pattern and admitting you are a fool.
Redrider765
6:24 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
And BTW, if she is fraudulently sending her kids to school here and living in another town, that completely goes to her credibility. Not like you care, you never have supported people w/ credibility.
nice try
6:55 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
This is a much more more interesting "pattern" from Passkey:
whiteshirt
6:47 pm on Saturday, February 19, 2011
Anyone else see a pattern here? It goes as follows:
A) KF gets caught being anything but open, transparent, competent, etc...
B) Bloggers/KF supporters put out attacks belittling the source of the initial report or ad hominem attacks on anyone who criticizes KF
C) Said controversy recedes, and KF wins points among its committed followers for standing up to the forces "assailing them".
nice try
7:15 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Oh look here it is again another "pattern" from Passkey's "friend" whiteshirt:
whiteshirt
3:31 am on Friday, February 18, 2011
Anyone else see a pattern here? It goes as follows:
A) KF gets caught being anything but open, transparent, competent, etc...
B) Bloggers/KF supporters put out attacks belittling the source of the initial report or ad hominem attacks on anyone who criticizes KF
C) Said controversy recedes, and KF wins points among its committed followers for standing up to the forces "assailing them".
nice try
7:20 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
I wonder what whiteshirt thinks about Passkey taking his favorite post. Interesting "pattern" indeed here it is again:
whiteshirt
9:55 am on Tuesday, January 4, 2011
@Bet Mazin
Anyone else see a pattern here? It goes as follows:
A) KF gets caught being anything but open, transparent, competent, etc...
B) Bloggers/KF supporters put out derogatory statements belittling the source of the initial report or ad hominem attacks on anyone who criticizes KF
C) Said controversy recedes, and KF wins points among its committed followers for standing up to the forces "assailing them".
Except....nothing seems to be receding these days. Go figure.
Khoboken
7:26 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
You did not apologize, you offered up a tepid excuse for your boorish and thuggish behavior in front of children and other parents. It is a pity that you were never taught the difference. There is no decision or statement that could have justified your boorish and vulgar outburst. That is on you, and you alone. If you did not agree with something that was said, take it to a private place and have a discussion like an adult, not like a rabid barnyard animal. Accept it, own it and apologize, without any excuse, and then maybe other parents wont avoid you like the plague and your children will not be shunned. Who wants their kids around someone like you who can fly off the handle, act like a complete imbecile, and then instead of expressing true remorse for their behavior, goes on a campaign to get a well respected and highly regarded coach fired? What an effing load of crap you are. And the fact that you are so utterly clueless is pathetic and pitiful. There is nothing that the coach said or did that could ever remotely justify your antics. If you truly appreciated what a vulgar and foul display you put on, and the corrosive effect that it had on the other children and the relationship between the coach and the kids, the other kids and your kids, and you and the other parents, you would run and hide and never show your face again out of sheer and utter embarrassment for being such a collossal ass. But ignorance is bliss.
Hoboken Born and Raised
4:10 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
M. has a "wonderful" talent of making the "outside of his circle" children feel like dirt, with his yelling and bullying. I have seen that first hand. He is the one behind the scenes provoking and stands back like and innocent victim with an incident occurs. You parents who think he is a wonderful role model are sadly mistaken. He is a tirant, that Ex Dir knows it and hides that fact. Some of you parents should talk the the kids he threw off his team, ask those kids how they feel about him.
Hoboken Born and Raised
4:13 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Geri sorry that it came to this, but you too were fooled by him in the beginning and now you too see what i always saw. that place needs an new brd, a new ex ed and new staff asap!
TruthBToldHobBNR
12:56 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
This woman learned nothing. She still prances around with the same people, who did not speak up for her at all. The "self-proclaimed Mom Squad" I see them at basketball and football games. They belittle children who are not included in their little social clique and berate them at public games. Its garbage like this that needs to be taken care of in Hoboken.
Sting Ray
8:51 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
HB&R - Another liar. Geri has an ax to grind, most likely because she was busted committing fraud against the taxpayers of Hoboken. She did her children a disservice and now she's spewing her misdirected rage at an established and respected coach at the Boys and Girls Club. Geri, put on your big girl pants and go back to your hometown. Make an appointment with an anger management counselor while you're at it.
the truth
12:36 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
StingRay and Khoboken, what do you 2 really know about Mike? Do you know that he has been cited several times for incidents with parents and children were he has used the same kind of aggressive and bully type behavior with others? Do you know that he has been suspended numerous times for similar incidents? Or has been fired and rehired again for the same type of behavior? You come on here to defend him and try to put others down without doing your research on the type of person he is. Try talking to all of the parents who have removed their children from the program because of the way Mike treats them. Or talk to the recreation department about all the parents who refuse to have their children play on his team. Talk to the kids who he coaches for a while who then want no part of him. At some point Gary Greenberg will step up and do what is right instead of constantly trying to cover Mikes behind all the time. Mike sells big dreams to people but only as long as they are benefiting him.
Khoboken
7:51 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
mistruth.
Whatever, whatever. I know infinitely more about the B&G than you would ever suspect. The whole point is that the idiot banshee of a parent went into a rabid vulgar tirade in front of other children and parents. NOTHING justified that spectacle - and that is set forth in each of my posts. Such conduct is the antithesis of what the G&G is supposed to be promoting. It was a hideous example of parenting and adult behavior gone wrong. There were multiple ways to have handled the situaion as a sane rational parent instead of blowing up. The lame excuse of an apology (he made me do it) only makes the matter worse. Slam the man all day long, no ciach/teacher/mentor is immune from patretns indignation for not recognizing the specialness of their child, not putting them on the right team, not giving them a starting positon every game, ad nauseum. At least the man is actually doing something, while the many parents who push their kids with unrealistsic expectations dont lift a finger, just whine and complain about the staff and how inadequate that they are. And by the way, I am no fan at all of the current board or the HOLA situation. But I am addressing my conerens through the appropriate channels and not acting like a wannbe thugette.
Sting Ray
6:51 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
"the truth"
As a parent who had a child in the Boys and Girls Club for several years, I never experienced a complaint about Mike from my child or anyone associated with the club. I find him a genuine asset to the Boys and Girls Club and he has been there for about 12 years. What do we know about you? It appears you have access to his personnel file. As a parent, I wouldn't have access. So, are you a B&GC employee doing damage control? Who at the Boys and Girls Club has access to personnel files? Looks like Mike would have grounds for a lawsuit. I don't know who you are, but I know what you are.
The subject of this article is a report about how the children of the Boys and Girls Club are being pushed aside. Do you sincerely think the children in the Club are being treated adequately by consuming Rice Crispy Treats or crackers and Kool-aide when they used to be served warm meals every day after school? What is your take on that?
Hoboken Born and Raised
6:33 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Ok
Hoboken Born and Raised
6:39 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
My son's attended abou 3.5 yrs ago, I thought the leadership in that program was top notch, there was a young lady running the program that was thoughtful, organized and cared about evey child. Her name was Ms. Rodrigues. She brought the food program to the Club. She was raised in the HHA and was a wonderful real role model fot the kids. I remember even back then thinking how immature and irrational Mike was. I had seen "suspend" kids from the gym. He would yell GET OUT if they even opened the gym door to call their siblings when it was time to go home. I had seen her frustration with him. As for Gary Greenberg, I met him once, why is she gone and not him. The program was wonderful under her leadership and now its terrible. Questions about the publicly funded food program, contact the NJ Food Bank in Hillside. I remember seeing their truck delivering food to the Club weekly. Or call Gary Greenberg 201-333-4100. He is a no show, who isnt accountable for anything, he will probably never return your calls.