February 10 to february 27, 2014 river view observer

Volume 18, No. 2

February 10th - February 27th 2014 FREE PUBLICATION

riverviewobserver.net

201-349-4336

Oscar & Pg. 2 Hudson County Margaret Pg. 3 TheHague?

Pg. 4

On the cover

Actor Vincent Curatola Picks Up Where Johnny “Sack” Left Off

Pg. 19

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n the HBO award-winning TV series THE SOPRANOS (1999-2007) it was easy to like Vincent Curatola’s character Johnny “Sack” Sacramoni, a mobster who worshipped his heavyset wife. Sure, Curatola’s character was a cold-blooded killer and he was scary to watch, but there was always a touch of humor, especially when he had to endure wisecracks about his wife’s weight. Curatola was so convincing that when Johnny Sack winced at a fat joke, the viewers did, too.

A Jersey guy, Curatola grew up in Englewood a residential community just north of the George Washington Bridge. According to his website – VincentCuratola.com – he always had the acting bug and it was his wife Maureen who encouraged him to take classes. Soon after Curatola brought Johnny Sack to life.

In the seven years since the show ended, Curatola has made a few movies, appeared in several TV shows and taught acting in New York. He recently taped five episodes as an exasperated judge on the CBS hit show THE GOOD WIFE starring Julianna Margolis. Has it been difficult for Curatola to reinvent himself after eight years in a hit series? Do all roles pale in comparison to Johnny Sack? cont’d pg. 4

E

Pg. 5

Legendary Locals

By Sally Deering

LUSIVE C X

Photo by Stephen Lovekin - © 2012 Getty Images

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Oscar Winner s Viewed Through a Local L ens

By Ricardo Kaulessar The 86th Academy Awards will be held on March 2 to honor excellence in filmmaking during the past year.

But you may be thinking that the Oscars will be handed out in Los Angeles, and I am here in Cliffside Park or Bayonne. What connection does it have to me?

Actually, those towns as well as some others in northern New Jersey have an interesting association with Oscar history.

Bayonne Whenever Bayonne is mentioned in any sentence regarding the movies, what should come to mind are two things: Tom Cruise and alien invasion.

Anyone who’s a fan of the 2005 blockbuster hit, “War of the Worlds,” will remember that Cruise’s character and his family lived in the Peninsula City before fleeing for their lives. Much of the Bayonne filming for the Steven Spielberg movie that earned three Oscar nominations happened in the area of First Street and Kennedy Boulevard.

Then there’s the 2006 film “The Wrestler,” starring Mickey Rourke as the title character, which earned Rourke an Academy

Award nomination along with his co-star Marisa Tomei. The picture was filmed in such locales as the Color & Cuts Salon and the former Dolphin Gym on Broadway.

And don’t forget the Ron Howard movie, “A Beautiful Mind,” that won four Oscars including Best Director for Howard.

The 2001 movie featuring Russell Crowe as Nobel Prize-winning mathematician John Nash and his struggles with schizophre

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nia has some scenes shot at the former Military Ocean

Terminal, now Peninsula at Cont’d on page 6

Were You Born at the Margaret Hague?

T-Shirt Design Contest & Reunion for Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital Babies

By Sally Deering If you were born in Jersey City from 1931 to 1979, chances are good you greeted the world from one of the many Art Deco delivery rooms at the Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital founded by Jersey City Mayor Frank “Boss” Hague and named for his mother.

The Margaret Hague – where celebs like Martha Stewart and Frank Sinatra, Jr. were born – was part of a cluster of hospitals known as the Jersey City Medical Center which were turned into condominiums called The Beacon several years ago with a new state-

of-the-art medical center built to take its place just a few blocks away on Grand Street.

To celebrate the common bond shared by those who were birthed at Margaret Hague, the LibertyHealth Foundation, the philanthropic arm of JCMC has kicked off a T-Shirt contest with a $250 cash prize for a “Born at the Margaret Hague” logo/design to be used on T-Shirts

and other items that will be for sale at the “Born at the Margaret Hague Reunion” held in May. The winning design will be featured on T-shirts and items like baseball caps and coffee mugs.

“The phrase ‘Born at the Margaret Hague’ is almost synonymous with Jersey City,” Regina Andriolo, Executive Director of the LibertyHealth Foundation says. “We are constantly discovering ‘Margaret Hague babies’ in all walks of life, in all different parts of this country, and even abroad. We are looking forward to receiving artistic entries reflecting that

legacy and then incorporating the winning artwork as an integral part of the Margaret Hague Reunion in May.”

Contest Rules: • Submission may be sent digitally or by mail. Files should be no more than Cont’d on page 7

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Page 3- February 10th-February 27th, 2014 River View Observer

LIFE AFTER SOPRANOS

Actor Vincent Curatola Picks up where Johnny ‘Sack” Left Off Cont’d from Cover On a recent afternoon, Mr. Curatola took time from his busy schedule to speak to River View Observer about what it’s like to continue his career after THE SOPRANOS. RVO: Mr. Curatola, can you tell us a little about your background; where you grew up?

VC: I was born and raised in Englewood and I had a unique paper route on the block I lived on. My customers were Tony Bennett, Jerry Vale, Wilson Pickett, Lesley Gore, Dizzy Gillespie and Sarah Vaughn. I used to deliver The Record. My father had a masonry business and I started one on my own in

the mid-1970s, but I had fantasies (about acting).

So I went to study with Michael Moriarty.

RVO: Did you do much acting before being cast in THE SOPRANOS? VC: Michael got me on LAW & ORDER and I wrote a one act play about a funeral guy called DEARLY BELOVED. I also did the show EXILED. RVO: How did you get the part of Johnny Sack; was there a lot of competition?

VC: I happened to be filming in Staten Island and my agent called and said, there’s this thing THE SOPRANOS. I told her I don’t want to go to the

Photo from Vincent Curatola .com HBO Sopranos Publicity Photo

audition. I thought it was going to be SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER meets The Bronx. She called for the third time and said, they’re going to cast this character; you need to go in. I went home to New Jersey, changed and went to 72nd Street in Manhattan for the audition. I got out of the cab and thought let me smoke a cigarette. It’s a gorgeous spring day, I’m late already, let me smoke

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another cigarette. I got upstairs 35 minutes late, and there’s a woman sitting at a big desk in the middle of the room. Sorry, you’re late, she says; I’m leaving.

She looks up at me and changes her mind. She says do you have the pages they faxed you? Come over, sit down and let’s read the scene. I read it once and she said, do you want to do it again? I said no. She said, I want you to meet somebody on Monday That Monday I’m in this big ante room, and there were 40-45 guys in for callbacks, I hear them and everyone is screaming the part. I said I know what I’m going to do. So I go in, meet David Chase (the producer) and when I started the scene,

I started to whisper.

I whispered the whole scene. I could see they were scared stiff. The next morning, they wanted me to do one episode. I ended up doing 33 episodes and I was in it from the beginning right through to the end.

RVO: THE SOPRANOS was amazing, like Shakespeare, What was it like being in a hit series?

VC: Every time FedEx delivered a script, you were like a viewer. The writing was so incredible they would take twists and turns.

In many interviews over the years, the interviewer would describe it as a mob show and I would say, I’m not on a mob show.

Cont’d on page 8

Legendary Locals of Jersey City Book by John Gomez Shines New Light on The City’s Movers and Shakers

By Sally Deering

Published as part of

the new Arcadia Publishing imprint Legendary Locals, John Gomez’s book LEGENDARY LOCALS OF JERSEY CITY shines new light on the people of Jersey City, past and present who stand out in the crowd.

LEGENDARY LOCALS OF JERSEY CITY (Arcadia Publishing; 128 pgs.; $21.99, soft cover;) focuses on Jersey City’s Who’s

Who and “Who Was” At first, when Gomez, who is also the founder of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy was approached by Arcadia Publishing to do the book, he was reluctant.

“I write about buildings,” Gomez says. “I’m an architectural historian, but then I thought we can’t have buildings without the people in them, so I agreed.

I had a list of 500 people and had to shrink it to 150.”

Gomez decided to include information in the book that people who are historians would not necessarily know. To accomplish this required a lot of research, he says, and when he decided to add Jersey

City Mayor Frank “Boss” Hague to the list, he came across surprising tidbits like the time Hague had a

run-in with Russian communist Leon Trotsky in Journal Square. Hague, who was anti-Communist, learned Trotsky was to make an appearance in Journal Square to recruit communists and Hague was there to kick him out.

‘Research and I have a very mysterious relationship,” Gomez says. “Whenever I do research I come across surprising things.

I wanted to give the book something fresh and original. When you look and read the book you come away with something about that person that you didn’t know anything about.”

Also in Gomez’s book is Ann Willis, the first woman architect from Jersey City who made it big. She was one of the first two women architects to be admitted

into the New Jersey Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. She designed Trinity United Methodist Church located at the southwest corner of Summit Avenue and Bowers Street in Jersey City.

“She was a major architect,” Gomez says, “and her buildings are still here. We look at buildings and never know who the architect is.”

The Brennan Courthouse in Jersey City rededicated its first-floor Rotunda for architect Theodore Conrad who was a huge figure in America’s past, having designed the Eternal Flame Memorial for President John F. Kennedy at Arlington Cemetary.

“Ted Conrad’s spirit was the inspiration for this book,” Gomez says.

Cont’d on a page 9

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Oscar Winners Viewed Through a Local Lens

Cont’d from page 2 Bayonne Harbor.

Jersey City A drive through the state’s second largest city can be a moviephile’s delight.

Start the trip at the old Jersey City Medical Center, now known as the residential development The Beacon, on the corner of Montgomery Street and Baldwin Avenue. The hospital’s nursing residence Murdoch Hall was use for

was used for the 1994 film “Quiz Show” starring Ralph Fiennes and John Turturro that earned four Oscar nominations including a Best Director nod for Robert Redford.

Next, stop at the intersection of Grand Street and Communipaw Avenue.

Look in the direction of 731 Grand Street, now the site of an insurance agent’s office. But back in the late 1980’s, it was home to local favorite Brummer’s

Tony Roberts and Diane Wiest in Woody Allen’s Radio Days Confectionery, where Woody Allen filmed a scene for his 1987 film “Radio Days”. The movie earned Academy Award nominations for Best Achievement in Art Direction and Best Original Screenplay.

Finally, get over to

Liberty State Park and just look out at the vast landscape. Then flash back to the “squid birth” scene that occurred in the Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones starrer “Men In Black,” and that the park is where it took place. The 1997 sci-fi flick won the Academy Award for Best Makeup, and was also nominated for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score and Best Art Direction.

Karl Malden and Marlon Brando walking in Hoboken near Steven’s Park in a scene from “On the Waterfront” Hoboken A walk in Hoboken today does not resemble a trek across a rough-andtumble town filled with dockworkers and other blue collar types. It’s a good

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thing that the 1954 classic “On The Waterfront” exists. The film starring Marlon Brando as dockworker and ex-boxer Terry Malloy fighting an uphill battle against his union and the mob won eight Oscars including Best Actor for Brando, and more importantly, is a cinematic document of the Mile Square City as it used to be even though the movie is set in Brooklyn.

Some locations used in the movie that can still be found around town are Stevens Park on Hudson Street and Our Lady of Grace Church on Willow Avenue.

Cliffside Park Everyone remembers the famous scene in the 1988 movie, “Big,” when Tom Hanks’ child-trappedin-an-adult’s body is leaping back and forth on the oversized piano at FAO Schwartz in Manhattan.

However, does anyone Cont’d on page 7

Oscar Winners Viewed Through a Local Lens Cont’d from page 6

remember where the Josh Baskin character lived?

As a matter of fact, it was Cliffside Park. Specifically, the homes for Josh and his friend Billy that are seen in the film are located on Greenmont Avenue, while the school that both boys attended is located on Oakdene Avenue, which in real-life is the site of both Cliffside Park School #6 and the Cliffside Park Middle School.

The movie was nominated for Best Actor (Tom Hanks) and Best Original Screenplay.

Were You Born at the Margaret Hague?

Cont’d from page 3

4MB. • Design should be able to be reproduced on a cotton T-shirt and other items.

• Subject matter should reflect the history and legacy of the Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital and/or Jersey City.

• Entries should be sent to margarethague@libertyhcs. org or mailed to LibertyHealth Foundation, 242 Barrow Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302; or hand-delivered to 44 Bright Street, Jersey City.

• Artists must be 18 years of age to enter and win the cash prize.

• Artwork submitted must be artist’s original work.

• By entering this competition, the artists grants the LibertyHealth Foundation exclusive perpetual license to use and reproduce images of the artwork.

A committee will select

five finalists from all entries and then open the voting to the public to choose the winning entry. Voting will be done through the Foundation’s website where submissions should be received by 11:59 pm on Sun, Feb. 23rd.

Voting takes place through Mon March 3rd and the winner will be announced Mon, March 10th.

According to LibertyHealth, party-goers often start singing “Born at the Margaret Hague” to the tune of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA,” just to make sure everyone knows where they came from. Visit www. libertyhcs.org/Foundation to print an application that must be accompanied with your submission; or email MargaretHague@libertyhcs.org and request an application.

Cont’d on page 15

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LIFE AFTER SOPRANOS

Actor Vincent Curatola Picks up where Johnny ‘Sack” Left Off Cont’d from page 4 I always bristled at that.

It’s weird. When people meet me, they say you don’t sound like a mobster.

Johnny was an executive, he wasn’t the guy on the corner with the pinky ring.

RVO: So many people were devastated over the death of James Gandolfini; can you share what it was like working with him?

VC: Jimmy and I, we’ve been through a lot. One year he lost his father and

I lost mine. We’ve been through more funerals, more christenings. We met before THE SOPRANOS. We used to hang out at Mary Lou’s in Manhattan.

This is a guy, he gave us a piece of his production company and along with that came a beautiful check.

On December 1st of last year, we had a street in Park Ridge where he grew up renamed James Gandolfini Way. RVO: What acting lessons did you learn working with

Vincent Curatola and James Gandolfini in a scene from the HBO hit seriesTHE SOPRANOS him?

VC: Don’t think; just open your mouth and talk. Don’t stop to check yourself out, don’t think.

RVO: Is it true you

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watched the last episode together?

VC: Yes. It was a Saturday night in 2007, we were brought to Foxwoods in Connecticut – me, Jimmy, Lorraine (Bracco), Tony

Sirico, Steve Schirripa, Steve Van Zandt, and then the next morning they had a plane take us out to The Hard Rock in Florida, to watch the final episode with 16,000 people. They gave us a private room to watch it in. Nobody knew what the final episode was going to be. When it was over, I thought is David Chase kidding? Now we gotta go out to these 16,000 people and they did not look happy. What Jim did, he found a guy in Switzerland who makes hand-made watches and he gave each one of us a watch -Cont’d on page 19

Legendary Locals of Jersey City

Book by John Gomez Shines New Light on The City’s Movers and Shakers Cont’d from page 5

“I met him in the 1990s.

He was a huge influence on many people in Jersey City.

When you read the book closely, it’s a testament to Ted Conrad.”

Also featured are Alfred Charles Bossom who designed the First National Bank at Exchange Place and the Greenville Bank and Trust Company at Ocean and Lembeck Avenues in Jersey City; and George Siegler who helped build the Holland

Tunnel. Dr. Lena F. Edwards a Jersey City physician, who worked at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 with 29 other recipients including John Steinbeck, Walt Disney and Carl Sandburg – is also featured.

“During the ceremony, Lena Edwards stood sideby-side with these giants,” Gomez says.

Gomez outlined the

John Gomez

Photo by hpnetwork.org

chapters in the book according to Civil Rights Leaders, Photographers, Mom & Pop stores and other categories that are connected by the theme, Gomez says.

“The book wasn’t hard to shape,” Gomez says. “It was hard to do the research.

I researched in the New Jersey Room at the library;

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I used Columbia University, my own archives, ancestry.com, Google books – I used about 20 sources.

When it’s a history book you have to make sure everything is right.”

Jersey City’s history is rich in creativity, Gomez says, and the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy which he founded shares the city’s history with visitors who embark on the Conservancy’s walking and bus tours designed to educate and inspire them about the city’s history. Gomez continues to be in awe of the City’s architecture, especially the Powerhouse building located downtown.

“The Powerhouse is one of a kind; there’s nothing like it in the world,” Gomez says. “It’s what I call a one hit wonder. Designed by

architect John Oakman it would never be repeated.

That’s how grand and significant it is. What happens to it is very important to Jersey City.”

LEGENDARY LOCALS OF JERSEY CITY can be found on the bookshelves of New Word Bookstore on Newark Ave and Garden State News on Central Ave in Jersey City, and at Barnes & Noble Booksellers on Route 3, Paramus.

It can also be purchased online at Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com.

Gomez says that although his new book may have a sequel, he’s working on a book that has nothing to do with Jersey City.

“It’s a book on architectural experience and theory,” Gomez says, “and it should be out later this year.”

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Olympians Hit the Ice in Jersey City: Star-Studded Performance at Newport Skates

Make the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games your reality—without leaving the Tri-State—by celebrating at Newport Skates, the only outdoor, uncovered skating rink in Jersey City.

On February 15th Newport Skates will be presenting a special performance featuring two-time Olympic Bronze medalists John and Sinead Kerr (who some might recognize from their appearances on Glee too)!

The talented Olympian siblings, who trained in New Jersey, will be performing several, exclusively choreographed ice dances, along with an ensemble of national and international figure skating champions from Ice Theatre of New York.

Celebrations continue in Newport as the games go on at Sochi too. Newport Skates has an on-going line-up of special activities, games and prizes through February 23rd, including Frisbee curling and a medal count competition!

For more details about Newport Skates, go to www.newportskates.com

Were You Born at the Margaret Hague?

Cont’d from page 7

Also visit Newport’s Facebook page for updates on the community and the on-going Olympic Celebrations: www.facebook.com/ NewportRentalsNJ IF YOU GO

Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 3:30 p.m.

Newport Skates 95 River Drive Jersey City, NJ 07310 Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ riverviewobserver

FOR MORE INFO: LibertyHealth Foundation 242 Barrow Street Jersey City, NJ 07302 201-377-6057 www.libertyhcs.org/ foundation Email: MargaretHague@ Llibertyhcs.org

Page 15-February 10th -February 27th, 2014 River View Observer

Embrace Kids Foundation and The McCourty Twins Tackle Sickle Cell Jason & Devin McCourty are twin brothers, who were football standouts at Rutgers University and are both currently starting defensive backs in the NFL. Devin plays for the New England Patriots while Jason plays for the Tennessee Titans. Each brother has found individual success in the NFL. Jason led all NFL cornerbacks in tackles this past season with the Titans, while Devin made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2011 and played in the Super Bowl last year with the Patriots.

They’ve done everything together their entire lives, so its no surprise that they’ve joined forces with their charitable efforts. Jason & Devin have seen first hand the devastating effects of Sickle Cell on family

family members and they are choosing to use their platform to help families in similar situations. The

twins sought to partner with a non-profit that supports children and families battling Sickle Cell and were thrilled to find Embrace Kids Foundation.

Mc Courty Twins will hostng a Casino Night to Tackle Sickle Cell Casino Skylark on the Hudson, 25 River Drive South Jersey City, NJ 07310 Jersey City, NJ Saturday, February 15, Time: 7:30pm to 11:30pm

Page 16-February 10th-February 27th, 2014 River View Observer

Outside Hudson Date: Saturday, February 15, 2014 Time: 10:00am to 4:00pm Location: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ All blood donors will be given a photo signed by the McCourty Twins and a Tackle Sickle Cell t-shirt

Tackle Sickle Cell 5K Run/ Walk 2014 Date: Saturday, June 14, 2014 Time: Begins at 9 am Location: Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ Click Here for registration and more information.

The McCourty Twins will be attending all three events.

GILBERT GOTTFRIED

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 VICTORY SPORT CLUB MEADOWLANDS SPECIAL VALENTINE’S SHOW At the young age of 15, Gilbert Gottfried began doing stand-up at open mike nights in New York City and after

a few short years, became known around town as “The Comedian’s Comedian.” After spending several years mastering the art of stand-up comedy, producers of the legendary NBC late night comedy show “Saturday Night Live” became aware of Gottfried and, in 1980, hired him as a cast member. It wasn’t until a few years later when his true notoriety would begin when MTV hired him for a series of improvised and hilarious promos for the newly formed channel. This led to several television appearances on “The Cosby Show” and “Late Night with David Letterman.”

Gottfried’s work in television soon led to roles in film.

Most notable was his improvised scene as business manager Sidney Bernstein in the hit sequel “Beverly Hills Cop II,” for which the New York Daily News said, “Gilbert Gottfried steals the picture with a single scene.” Aside from his glowing reputation in comedy clubs, Gottfried began to gain a reputation as the king of quirky roles in both movies and television.

IF YOU GO Friday, February 14th 9pm Victory Sports Club Meadowlands Rt. 3 Secaucus NJ

River View Observer Since 1998 201.349.4336 Page 17-February 10th -February 27th, 2014 River View Observer

Page 18-February 10th -February 27th, 2014 River View Observer

STARGAZINE

Aries March 21 - April 19

Your creative juices are flowing and with ease you seem to discover solutions to some long existing problems.

Just viewing issues from a different perspective and Viola!! The answer previously hidden is now clearly exposed to the light. Part of the key is allowing a softer Aries energy to display itself and going forward your kindness and respect for others saves the day!

Taurus -April 20 - May 20

Don’t allow your stubborn nature to ruin a very positive month of love. Your ruler is Venus and as we approach St. Valentine’s Day and review its history is clear that true love does not always run smooth.

The astral advice suggests that you hold and don’t break up an otherwise strong relationship on a moment of anger. This can be a time of hearts and flowers. Enjoy!

Gemini May 21 - June 20

This may be an optimal time to leverage your career. Although Mercury your ruler and planet of communication is retrograde for the whole month you should however review your career opportunities and decide a course of action fro March. One tweak to your resume or one additional class may increase your salary considerably. So who couldn’t use a pay increase?

Go for the gold!

Cancer June 21-July 22nd

Jupiter in Cancer in the 8th house governing taxes and mortgages and the like may find you refinancing or buying a totally new abode.

Do the work in February but close in March or April. The advice for all is to avoid signing contracts during a retrograde as doing so will bring issues for the whole term of the agreement. So look now and sign later and all will be well.

ASTROLOGY TAROT HYPNOSIS Individual Parties Corporate Events Phone and SKYPE Consultation J Banda Lewis Astralcommunications @ aol.com 201.339.4555

Leo-July 23 - August 22

This is a good time to organize and clean house from the very basic, for example, cleaning out your garage to the more in depth spiritual cleansing. Forgiving and loving those who have hurt you as well as loving yourself are remedies for the sometime sadness you have suffered. New you and a new life await you in March. Let the purging begin!!

Virgo-August 23-September 22

This month’s Mercury retrograde coupled with the many snowstorms in the northeast may dampen the psychological spirits but this time should not be wasted. Planning for a kinder astrological weather is the astral advice. What are your plans for the future? It is great to plant the seeds of progress that will bare fruit and bring rewards in the Spring.

Libra – September 23 - October 22

Mars in Libra as we enter February coupled with Mercury retrograde advise caution in short distance travels as well as communication.

If anything can be left to the month of March please do so. Delays and even small accidents may occur.

Keep alert and all should be fine as these energies are short lived and not catastrophic but merely annoying. Patience and planning are the astral code words for March.

Scorpio -

October 23rd -November 21st

A tendency to relive past hurts can put a 12th house energy on the month. Saturn in Scorpio already highlights the Scorpion trait of never forgetting! This is a time to keep the mind focused on happy thoughts and the will directed forward. Better days are coming but they can start now if you take control of your mind!

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February

2014

LIFE AFTER SOPRANOS

J Banta Lewis

Sagittarius-

November 22 - December 21

The astral energy suggests that you not judge others by yourself. You may not be capable of deception but others in your work environment do not all hold to your high standards of honesty. So observe and verify all transactions and you escape without a blemish on your fine reputation. Wide awake at work will bring rewards.

Capricorn -

December 22 - January 19

Pluto conjunct Venus in the 10th house can usher in great business opportunities. You must wait several weeks for your path to be clear but take a chance on yourself.

A leap of faith and confidence may find you at the top of your career.

You have waited a long time for this success. Don’t let it pass!

Aquarius-

January 20 - February 18

-The Sun returns to the exact degree and sign of your natal Sun. At the time of your birthday you are given decisions and opportunities.

Select well and use those powerful Venus and Jupiter thoughts and your life will take a great leap towards fulfillment. Happy Solar Return!

Pisces-

February 19-March 20

There is much astral activity for the Pisces native. So, allow the energy to protect and lead you on your quest for happiness. Each day when you awake just thank the universe and also accept the fact that you are deserving of the very best. Your thought cells will respond through the Law of Attraction and begin to bring people and circumstances that prove your affirmations. Try and see the magical improvement in one month!!

Read More Stargazine @www. and other articles @ riverviewobserver.net

Cont’d from page 8 you could buy a Cadillac with this watch. It says on the back: “THE SOPRANOS, R.I.P., love J.G. He was incredibly generous and self-effacing. Whenever we’d see in the script a guy was going to die that week, we would take that guy out for dinner. We couldn’t tell anybody – we couldn’t leak something – so if anybody asked, we’d say it was his birthday.

RVO: Since THE SOPRANOS ended, you’ve been on LAW & ORDER, SVU and LAW & ORDER Criminal Intent; MONK, and PERSON OF INTEREST. Were you offered other roles?

VC: I’m a little picky.

Once you’ve been on THE SOPRANOS, it’s like what do you do now? You drove a Rolls, now you’re going to drive a Chevy? I did two movies, KILLING THEM SOFTLY with Brad Pitt and NICKY DEUCE which was written by Steve Schirripa.

We shot it in Montreal with Jimmy, Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico and Rita Moreno.

RVO: Anything planned for the future?

VC: A few months ago I picked up the guitar again, I have three great teachers.

About ten years ago, I went to the China Club with my wife Maureen, and who’s playing but CHICAGO. I ran out to my car and took out a CD of their greatest hits. When their act was done, I went backstage and they said, you want us to sign your stuff? Only if you sign ours. We had dinner once at The Plaza – it was somebody’s birthday – and one of the band members starts to hum and I start to sing. They said, you sing?

So, for about 7 years I’d be their surprise guest singer.

We played the PNC Arts Center, Jones Beach. They would say to the audience, we have a friend and he told us he has to come out and sing a song.

To learn more about Vincent Curatola, visit his website: www.vincentcuratola.com.

RVO: Can you describe your part on the good wife?

VC: I play a judge. It’s a complete 180 from Johnny Sack. I love working with Julianna. She played a girlfriend of Christopher’s on THE SOPRANOS. She’s a wonderful actress; I play the judge who gets exasperated easily. I love to play that.

Page 19- January 13-January 27th, 2014 River View Observer

In Your Home Six hot home design trends for spring 2014 (BPT) - Does the change of seasons have you itching to refresh a tired, lackluster room? Or maybe you’re looking for some small ways to make a big impact on your home’s style?

Whatever the case, here are some of this season’s most buzzed-about trends and how you can incorporate them into your next project. * Wood is the new neutral.

This season’s strong trend toward wood textures pairs the warmth, richness and texture of real wood with limitless design flexibility. Think wood-textured textiles, tree-printed wallpapers and embossed soaps that look like wood. Installing engineered wood ceilings and wainscoting

can bring the unique look of reclaimed wood into any environment - an easy do-it-yourself project with striking results. * Ode to the elements.

Mother Nature is inspiring design in a big way incorporate rocks

minerals and other natural elements into their home’s design. Try replacing a common-place item like an alarm clock with one encased within a multi-colored agate. Bring this look to the kitchen with a Cont’d on page 21

Page 20-February 10th -February 27th, 2014 River View Observer

Spruce Up Your Home in the New Year

Six Hot Home Design Trends

Cont’d page 20 forget to look up - coffered stainless steel backsplash, or swap out run-of-the-mill ceilings bring a striking je ne sais quoi to any room. hardware with mineralinspired drawer pulls and * Manipulated metals. knobs.The versatility of manipulated metal makes it a great * Shore thing. Homeownaddition to any style home ers, inspired by the calm, care-free attitude of coastal - from hand-crafted artiliving are all about bringing san to contemporary high gloss. Copper, pewter and the beach inside this seanickel are getting in on the son. Beach-inspired deaction and can be styled in sign elements are popping a variety of ways, includup throughout the home. ing hammered metal sink Weathered and whitewashed wood ceilings are a basins, tin-look ceiling tiles, antiqued copper light subtle but stunning onfixtures and brushed staintrend addition - especially when finished with interior less steel cabinet hardware.

If you’d benefit from accents like decorative shells, drift wood furniture a little windfall to help finance your fabulous spring and marine-themed prints. home improvement projects (and who wouldn’t?), con* Contrast in texture. Step sider checking with your aside Pantone, texture is favorite vendors, many of spring’s hottest new color.

Homeowners are putting down their paintbrushes and adding interest with texture through high-gloss finishes, metallics, sequins and mirrors. A textured tile wall brings visual and tactile interest, especially when paired with contrasting high-gloss lacquer or low-gloss matte accessories. * Visual punch. Reawaken the senses this spring by incorporating a striking visual element to the home.

Multi-dimensional surface treatments in pearl, metallic and gold/silver combinations add panache as a coating used for hardwood, or can be applied to wallpaper, furniture or decorative accessories. And don’t

(BPT) - Setting a home improvement goal is more common than you may think and you can make a dramatic improvement to your home with a complete remodel. * A fresh coat of paint. Nothing reinvents a room like a fresh coat of paint. Yet many people put off painting a room because they can’t afford professional painters and they don’t have time to do the job themselves. But you can achieve that professional quality finish at a fraction of the time and cost by visiting RentalHQ. com and renting your own paint sprayer. Use your sprayer to add a neutral color, which provides visual appeal and works with most furniture patterns, leaving you plenty of decorating

options.

which are running seasonal promotions. Armstrong Residential Ceilings, for example, is running a Style Is Looking Up Giveaway in February and

March and will offer the chance to win free product and gift cards to spend on home improvements at http://www.armstrong.com/ residential-ceilings.

* Recreate your flooring. If your carpet doesn’t need to be replaced but it could use a little refreshing, cleaning your carpets will do the trick. If you can’t afford to hire professional carpet cleaners or you feel like taking on the project yourself, renting a carpet cleaner can give your carpets the professional look you’ve been dreaming of.

Page 21-February 10th-February 27th, 2014 River View Observer

Is a refinance the right decision?

Home-Hunting-Free Consultation!

Get Pre-Approved before you you go home hunting you will have a much better chance on getting you offer accepted, we have programs as little as 3% down payment.

Mike Cruz (Mortgage Consultant) All American Mortgage Office:201-576-0700 Cell: 201-759-3821 mikec@allamericanmortgage.us www.MortgageHow.com

(BPT) - Once at rock bottom, interest rates have ticked up slightly in recent months.

Still, the prospect of refinancing a mortgage remains attractive. Interest rates are projected to rise to 5 percent or above by August 2014, according to an August 2013, Freddie Mac study.

“The window hasn’t closed, but homeowners should analyze their mortgage situation to see if a refinance can improve their overall financial picture,” says John Young, director of real estate product management at USAA. Mike Fratantoni, vice president of research and economics at the Mortgage Bankers Association, agrees.

“When market rates were at 3.5 percent, 90 to 95 percent of outstanding loans would have benefited from a refi,” he says. Now, with mortgage rates at about 4.4 percent, just 25 to 30 percent of homeowners with outstanding loans would come out ahead.

Here are some reasons why you should refinance. * Pay off your mortgage early. Moving from a 30-year term to a 15-year term without a big jump in monthly payments could save you thousands in interest and build equity in your home faster. * Create more cash flow.

Lower interest rates can create lower monthly mortgage payments, freeing up money to pay down debt or just to provide more wiggle room in the budget for other things. * Access home equity.

On a cash-out refinance, you borrow more money than you owe on your current loan, and use the funds for purposes such as reducing other debt, remodeling your home or just recovering from a financial setback. “As home values

Page 22-February 10th -February 27thth, 2014 Rivre View Observer

start to rise, there is some pent-up demand for a cash-out refinance to access the equity in the home for other purposes,” says Diane Brooks, real estate product management director at USAA. Would refinancing benefit you?

Fratantoni puts today’s mortgage holders into three categories: Already refinanced: Those with strong credit, job security and plenty of home equity.

These homeowners refinanced in the past few years and secured a rate in the low- to mid-3 percent range.

Already refinanced through federal programs: Those people with good credit and employment who lack enough equity to qualify for traditional refinancing. These borrowers only qualify to refinance through federal programs such as the Home Affordable Refinance Program, known as HARP, or the Federal Housing Administration’s streamline refinance - both advantageous to a homeowner who owes more on his mortgage than his home is worth. Fratantoni notes that many homeowners who qualify for those programs have refinanced.

Current candidates for traditional refinancing: Those who regained their financial footing after a job loss or credit trouble, or who are no longer underwater as home values rise.

Do your financial homework, Brooks says. “It’s not just about payment savings.

That’s not the whole story.”

How quickly will you recoup closing costs - typically between 2 and 5 percent of your loan? How long do you plan to stay in the home? How long are you extending the term?

Doing the numbers may not reflect how badly you want more cash flow in your budget or how passionate you are about that kitchen remodel. So even if the numbers aren’t optimal, there could be enough of a financial and emotional boost to justify a mortgage refinance. Just remember, you’re leveraging your home.

And a 30-year loan, while having a higher interest rate, can provide a lower monthly payment that’s more manageable in lean financial times.

“On a 30-year loan, you can make a larger monthly payment to pay the loan off in 15 years,” Young says. “If you run into cash flow problems, you can always make the minimum payment. Refinancing for a 15-year loan, while getting you a better interest rate, will also get you a higher minimum payment that must be paid on time.”

Before you refinance, ask yourself these questions:

* How’s my credit score?

A stellar credit score can help you get a good interest rate. * How will I pay my closing costs? Many people roll them into the refinanced loan amount. But saving enough to pay for the closing in cash can make the refinance an even better deal. * Where does my mortgage fit into my family’s financial picture? Consider your overall budget, investments, college savings plan and other financial goals. * If your refinance lowers your monthly payment, what will you do with the extra cash? Many people don’t have a good strategy for this additional monthly savings.

Ideally, the payment savings should be applied to other debt or to boost your savings account.

REAL ESTATE

Page 23-February 10th-February 27th, 2014 River View Observer