Mayor James Fife, grand marshal for Harrison’s 175th anniversary parade, and his wife Linda congratulate Sharon Gallagher, one of the 25 Gala Queens selected as part of the observance which included a weekend street fair.
HARRISON –
The Town of Harrison’s 175th anniversary is now in the books. Harrison Fest, as the event was dubbed by organizer Councilman Anselmo Millan and honorary chairman Mayor James Fife, launched with a Friday night Mass at Holy Cross Church, with a homily focused on the town’s history delivered by Auxiliary Bishop Manuel Aurelio Cruz. An Irish bagpiper played, as did a Chinese violinist.
That was followed by a sell-out Gala dinner, featuring the appearance of “Gala Queens” representing 25 different ethnic cultures, held in the auditorium of the church that drew close to 300 guests, including Freeholder Al Cifelli, State Sen./North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco and Weehawken Mayor Rich Turner, chief of staff to Rep. Albio Sires of West New York.
At the meal, the Harrison Fest Committee introduced the following honorees:
• Veteran of the Year: Second Ward Councilman Victor Villalta, a Marine Corps veteran who won a Purple Heart during service in Vietnam. He was general manager of Keystone Automotive Industries, an active member of area veterans’ posts, Housing Authority commissioner, Senior Citizens Center chairman and president of the Harrison Peru Soccer Club. He now serves on the Planning Board and Board of School Estimate and chairs the Recreation Center.
• Businessman of the Year: Jaime Lacero, a Mexican immigrant and entrepreneur, developed Azteca Enterprises, a distribution firm, and Gold and Silver Inc., importer and finisher of high-end fashions for department stores, both in the Garden State. He also built a large garment factory in his native state of Puebla. In 1999, he founded Casa Puebla New York, a nonprofit that serves Mexicans and Hispanics. He is president of the Mexican American Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Mexican American Associations. He has endowed a scholarship fund for the Mexican Studies Institute at Lehman College. He is also president of the Comite Guadalupano of the Archdiocese of New York.
• Businesswoman of the Year: Maria F. Reis, a Portuguese immigrant, has 30 years’ experience in the banking industry, most recently as first vice president/regional branch manager for the Harrison, Kearny and Newark region of Crown Bank. An active member of the Harrison Lions Club, Reis is a commissioner on the Harrison Downtown Community Development Partnership and Neighborhood Preservation Program. In partnership with the Harrison/East Newark Elks, she has helped collect holiday toys for the less privileged in Harrison.
• Woman of the Year: Mar ion Listwan, a Harrison High honors graduate, is a certified social worker who worked for N.J. Bell Telephone’s accounting department. In 1976, she became site manager for the Harrison Senior Nutrition Program and, later, director of senior citizen services. She has served as United Way municipal chair and on the local election board. She currently chairs the Hudson County Office on Aging Advisory Council. She has served as local president of the Polish Women’s Alliance of America and folk dance instructor. She is a charter member of the Polish American Heritage League, Pulaski Parade Committee, West Hudson/South Bergen Pulaski Parade Committee and Polish Children’s Heartline.
• Man of the Year: Jorge J. Tena, who has a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from New York University, has served as stearate market manager for GEO Specialty Services in Harrison. He has previously worked for Diamond Shamrock and Henkel and, before that, Lever Bros. and New York University.
• Woman of the Year: Louise Wozniak, who recently cel ebrated her 100th birthday with her many nieces and nephews, has been active in many civic and religious groups in Harrison, including the Elks Wom en’s Auxiliary (where she was a former president), the Holy Cross Senior Citizens Club and Harrison Senior Citizens Center.
On Saturday, residents were treated to a two-hour parade along Harrison Ave., which was closed to vehicular traffic from Patterson St. to Frank D. Rodgers Blvd.
Among the participants in the line of march were a detachment of U.S. Marines and their colors from Union City, along with eight floats representing different countries, seven marching bands including those from Memorial High School in West New York and North Bergen High School, local civic associations and fraternal organizations, Kearny and Harrison Fire Departments, local schools and cheerleaders.
Three floats built by Harrison High School students and staff carried the Heritage Queen, Family of the Year, Veteran of the Year and Businessman and Businesswoman of the Year.
Among the dignitaries attending were Kearny government representatives: Mayor Alberto Santos, Deputy Mayor Anthony Capitti and First Ward Town Council members Marytrine DeCastro and Albino Cardoso.
On both Saturday and Sunday, Harrison Ave. hosted a street fair where local and out-of-town vendors set up outdoor booths along Harrison Ave. selling a variety of antique, craft and retail products plus a diverse array of foods and beverages including Portuguese sardines and chicken.
A seemingly endless procession of different cultural groups presented songs and dance in costumes reflecting their ethnicity on an outdoor platform set up opposite Harrison Town Hall. Music devoted to a Latin beat, along with popular rock tunes, constantly played from outdoor speakers.
There were also family-oriented activities, including children’s amusements, a clown, a magician and horseback rides for little ones in Church Square Park.
“For our residents, this was a wonderful opportunity for which Councilman Millan was largely responsible,” said Mayor Fife, “although our governing body gave him lots of support.”
Millan paid tribute to the mayor and council for their help, and, in particular, to Councilman Larry Bennett, and Councilman James Dolan for his assistance with school-related activities, along with Fest coordinator Monica Miguens, administrative assistant Alicia Monterrosa and public relations chief John M. Pinho.
– Ron Leir
