Richardson Weighs in on Ward F Appointment: Jersey City Ward F councilwoman Viola Richardson, the apparent winner of one of two At-Large council seats that were filled in Tuesday’s special election, wants a say in who will next represent Ward F.

Council Report: Last night the City Council approved a controversial 20-year tax abatement for Goya Foods’ proposed Jersey City headquarters and distribution center; the council bid farewell to two of its members last night, as At-Large members Kalimah Ahmad and Ray Velazquez informally stepped down after having lost their seats in Tuesday’s special election. Look for full council coverage from JCI later today.

Beldini Hearing Postponed: A hearing scheduled for yesterday to decide if corrupt former Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini could delay starting her prison sentence due to health issues was postponed until next week.

Willie Flood Street Naming: A portion of Forrest Street will be dedicated Willie L. Flood Way, dedicated to the former At-Large councilwoman who retired in February.

Brunswick Street Mural: Dislocations takes note of a Brunswick Street mural that recalls a bygone era.

Jersey City Resident on Millionaire: Jersey City resident Denise Bonnin will be a contestant on this Friday’s episode of ABC’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Crime Blotter: A Jersey City man who was convicted of shooting a 9-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl in a city public housing complex playground in 2003 is being held on $225,000 bail for aggravated assault and weapons charges; a woman allegedly struck a restaurant worker with a metal post when an argument erupted after she demanded salt in a verbally abusive manner; a Seidler Street man has been charged with the aggravated sexual assault of his 5-year-old granddaughter; a Bostwick Avenue man who took off running Tuesday when he saw cops in Arlington Park was busted on numerous charges after he tossed a loaded gun while on the run, officials said; a Jersey City man was shot in the arm Tuesday night on the corner of Bergen and Lexington Avenues.

Today’s Best Bets: Painter and sculptor Jon Rappleye will be at NJCU this evening to discuss the works in his “Land of Promise” show — which our own Brendan Carroll called “the must-see show of fall” (starts at 4:30 pm).

In Statewide News:

Election Post-Mortem: NJ Spotlight takes stock of the statewide legislative election and concludes that what the off-year legislative election results really boil down to is the independence of New Jersey’s electorate and the truly local nature of these races.

Low Turnout Statewide: Voters in New Jersey appeared to show record apathy in Tuesday’s elections, potentially shattering previous turnout lows thanks in part to a shortage of competitive races and a district map favoring incumbents. [subscription required]

Dems Must Quell Infighting in Wake of Legislative Victory: The Ledger‘s Matt Friedman reports that before Democrats basking in the afterglow of Tuesday’s election victory take the battle to Gov. Christie — widely seen as having outmaneuvered them in his first two years in office — they’ll have to stop fighting among themselves.

NCLB Waiver Lacks Public Input: The Christie administration is scrambling to complete a proposal to the federal government that would essentially remake how New Jersey grades and monitors its public schools. But in the rush to complete its waiver to the No Child Left Behind Act, the state is being accused of skimping on a critical aspect of the application: public input.

Water Utilities to Get Paid Faster: The state yesterday approved a change that will allow water utilities to more quickly recover the costs of upgrading pipelines, hydrants and other infrastructure, a step that officials hope will speed up repair of New Jersey’s aging water systems.

Want your event listed on our calendar? You can submit it yourself — just click here and follow the simple instructions.

TODAY

Last week we caught up with Paul Sorvino, who tonight marks a return to the opera stage with a solo concert at the Loew’s ($75-$125, 7:30 pm).

There are two big openings today in Jersey City: Night Drawing at 58 Gallery features new work by Sean 9 Lugo and LNY (starts at 7:30 pm); and Dead Zone, a new installation and photography show about the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus by _gaia artists Christine DaCruz and Doris Caçoilo, opens today (starts at 6 pm).

TOMORROW:

The Laugh Tour hits ArtHouse and promises to be a real kneeslapper with headliner Yannis Pappas, recently known better as the Lower East Side’s man-crazy Maurica Rodriguez ($15-$20, 8 pm).

Former Neutral Milk Hotel frontman Jeff Mangum plays an added date at the Loew’s after Sunday’s show sold out ($35, 8 pm).

SUNDAY:

Author, columnist and genealogist Maureen Wlodarczyk talks about her two books about Jersey City and her adventures in genealogy that helped her discover her family’s roots in 19th-century Chilltown at “Tea & Tales of Olde Jersey City” (2 pm).

Jackhammering at Tonnelle Circle: A state Department of Transportation spokesman said yesterday that he misspoke when he told the Jersey Journal that jackhammering at the Tonnelle Circle in Jersey City would be off-limits between the hours of midnight and 7:30 am. What he meant to say was that jackhammering would be suspended between midnight and 4 am.

New Library at HCCC: Expanding its presence in Journal Square, Hudson County Community College broke ground yesterday morning on a new six-story Learning Resources Center & Academic Building at 65-79 Sip Ave.

Amateur Pool Champion Heads to National Competition: A Jersey City pool player has earned herself a rack at the U.S. National Amateur Championships in Tampa Bay, Florida this weekend, where she will compete with the best female pool players in the country for the coveted title of U.S. Amateur Champion, and a chance to earn a spot in a Women’s Professional Billiards Association (WPBA) tournament.

Crime Blotter: A Jersey City man was arrested yesterday afternoon for allegedly sexually assaulting a Wegman Parkway woman in the hallway of her apartment building while she was holding her baby; a 13-year-old Pearsall Avenue boy was knocked out cold when he was attacked as he walked home from PS 40 at Gates and Ocean Avenues Wednesday.

In Statewide News:

Support for Oliver Grows: Democratic State Chairman John Wisniewski yesterday joined the chorus of legislators backing Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver for another term as speaker of the lower chamber. Wisniewski’s support further solidifies the agreement to provide Oliver the votes needed to remain in the speaker’s post.

State Utilities Board Seeks Loans for Clean Energy Initiatives: The state is moving to shift more of its clean energy funds into revolving loan programs, a step long advocated by the president of the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), but recently panned by a panel advising New Jersey on its energy policies.

Legislative Election Spending: Fundraising and spending by legislative candidates has declined 8 percent from this point four years ago, according to an analysis by the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC). What hasn’t changed, however, is that a large portion of the funds are being raised and spent in just a few key legislative districts that could by won by either Democrats or Republicans.

Same-Sex Marriage Trial Begins Today: In the latest attempt to legalize gay marriage in New Jersey, same-sex couples are headed to court today to try to convince a judge their partnerships are more than civil unions.

New Jersey’s NCLB Waiver Application: NJ Spotlight‘s John Mooney takes a closer look at the Christie administration’s waiver application for the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Backscatter Machines Under Scrutiny: Concerns raised by cancer researchers, Congress and others over full-body scanners used at John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia and dozens of other airports have prompted the head of the Transportation Security Administration to order that the so-called X-ray backscatter machines undergo further testing to address a “perception” they are unsafe. Newark Liberty and Philadelphia International airports are equipped with millimeter wave scanners, which use radio waves, not X-rays, to peer through passengers’ clothes, and have not been linked to health risks.

UMDNJ Will Not Force Nurses to Assist Abortions: The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey hospital says it will temporarily stop requiring nurses to assist in performing abortions if they object on religious grounds.

Fall Back, Check Smoke Alarms: State Community Affairs commissioner Lori Grifa is encouraging New Jersey residents to use this weekend’s “fall back” to Standard Time as an occasion to test smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide detectors.

Chromium Cleanup Meeting: The Chromium Cleanup Partnership provided the community with an update on the progress of the remediation project on Garfield Avenue; JCI will have the full scoop later today.

Trick-or-Treater Hit by Car: A Jersey City boy was struck by an SUV while trick-or-treating Downtown Monday; look for more from JCI later today.

U.S. Senate Approves $15 Million for Amtrak Tunnel: The U.S. Senate approved $15 million yesterday for design and engineering work on Amtrak’s proposed tunnel project, at the same time New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and local politicians are touting a plan to extend the MTA 7 line to Secaucus.

Construction Noise Keeps Residents Awake: Late-night jackhammering at Tonnelle Circle is keeping Jersey City residents up at night; but after hearing complaints from residents and local officials, the state will ask construction workers not to jackhammer beyond midnight starting tonight.

BOE Seeks Parent Input on Strategic Planning: The Jersey City Board of Education announced Tuesday that it is circulating two surveys to parents and other residents as part of a strategic five-year planning process for the school district.

Bank Robber Caught on Video: Jersey City police have released several security camera images of the man being sought in Sunday’s robbery of $3,600 from a bank on the Hoboken/Jersey City border.

Grand Jury Vote on Car Crash Cop: Prosecutors yesterday completed their grand jury presentation in the case of an off-duty Jersey City police officer who was in a seven-vehicle crash in Bayonne that claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman in February. Grand jury proceedings are secret and the result of yesterday’s grand jury vote has not yet been made public.

Boys & Girls Clubs Get a Boost: The University of Phoenix made a $10,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County yesterday afternoon in a ceremony at the Downtown Jersey City center that marked the start of a new mentorship program.

Crime Blotter: An East Orange man was charged with driving while intoxicated yesterday after leading Jersey City police on a high-speed chase through Greenville; a Jersey City man allegedly punched a woman in the face during a robbery, tried to take the gun of an arriving police officer, and attacked Jersey City Medical Center staff Monday morning;

In Statewide News:

New Jersey Lawmakers Settle Improper Firing Suit: The campaigns of U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Rep. Rush Holt paid out nearly $40,000 to settle charges by a former election worker who said he lost his job for hiring minorities to get out the vote in predominately white areas.

State Gets Mixed Scores on National Ed Report Card: New Jersey’s public school students excel in math and reading, but wide achievement gaps persist, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress released yesterday.

Corzine Financial Firm Admits Possible Violation: MF Global, the securities firm led by former governor Jon Corzine, admitted using clients’ money as its financial troubles mounted, a federal official says. The FBI is reportedly expected to investigate whether the firm’s actions violated criminal laws.

State Transportation Commissioner Blasts Failed ARC Tunnel Project: The canceled second rail tunnel under the Hudson River “wasn’t supported by New York and lost some of its value when NJ Transit decided not to route it to Penn Station, New Jersey’s state transportation commissioner James Simpson said Tuesday.

Sports Betting Referendum Lacks Attention: New Jersey voters will be asked Tuesday whether sports betting should be allowed at the state’s racetracks and Atlantic City casinos, but the ballot question has received so little discussion in political campaigns this fall that many state voters aren’t aware of it.

Federal Sting Leads to New Jersey Arrests: Several New Jersey residents were among 13 indicted on charges of racketeering and other offenses for allegedly taking over FirstPlus Financial Group, a publicly traded mortgage company in Texas, and looting its accounts to finance lavish lifestyles.

City Crews Cleaning Up After Storm: Five crews of Jersey City workers, aided by a private contractor, are working to remove the “unprecedented” number of trees downed by this weekend’s freak snowstorm.

Final New PATH Car in Service: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey yesterday put the 340th new PATH train car into service, completing a three-year project to replace the entire system’s rail car fleet.

DeGise Dismisses Departure Rumors: Running for his third full term in next week’s general election, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, 61, yesterday dismissed rumors he’s eyeballing another job and said he’s not through making his mark as county exec.

Chromium Cleanup Progress: According to the public-private Chromium Cleanup Partnership, now that about 10 percent of the contaminated material on Garfield Avenue has been removed, the next phase of land remediation is set to begin. Look for more coverage from JCI this week.

Political Insider: Augie expresses doubts over a reported pair of polls that show Mayor Healy getting favorable job ratings and 2013 mayoral challenger Steven Fulop with low scores; he also reviews a campaign spot for At-Large incumbents Kalimah Ahmad and Ray Velazquez.

Body Identified: Detective work on both sides of the Hudson River has led to the identification of a drowned woman found floating near Jersey City’s Newport community on Saturday as a 59-year-old Queens woman.

Crime Blotter: An unidentified man robbed more than $3,600 from TD Bank on 18th Street yesterday afternoon; when a Paterson woman ignored the advances of a man trying to chat with her on a street in the Lafayette section of the city Sunday night, he opted to rob her instead.

In Statewide News:

Afterschool Program Not Closing After All: New Jersey After 3′s surprise reprieve by the governor on the eve of elections has some Democrats questioning its timing.

Praise for State Utilities: Gov. Christie praised Jersey Central Power & Light Co. and Public Service Electric & Gas Co. for making adequate progress returning power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses knocked offline by the weekend storm.

State Help for Rutgers Athletics: Gov. Christie has told Rutgers University officials he’s ready to help the athletic department respond to the string of defections that have weakened the prestige of Big East Conference and threatened the future of the state university’s $58 million sports program.

Day of the Dead Commemorations on the Rise: As New Jersey’s Mexican population soars, Day of the Dead festivities are growing more common.

Christie Fundraising for Romney: Now that he has given his endorsement, Gov. Christie will start generating some cash for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Corzine Financial Firm Woes: Former Gov. Corzine’s revived Wall Street career is in trouble. His firm, MF Global — a powerhouse in the world of commodities and derivatives trading but little known outside Wall Street — was working frantically toward a potential sale late on Sunday. Failing to find a buyer, the firm is reportedly filing for bankruptcy.

New Marketing Targets Emergency Room Visits: Some New Jersey hospitals are marketing their emergency rooms to insured patients, while the state struggles to reduce ER visits by Medicaid recipients.

Spectra Plan Public Comment Deadline: Today is the deadline the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has set for public comments regarding Spectra Energy’s controversial plan to build a natural gas pipeline through parts of Bayonne, Jersey City and offshore Hoboken.

Court Grants Request to Postpone Redistricting: A Hudson County Superior Court judge has granted the city’s request for a 120-day extension to postpone redistricting pending the outcome of a challenge to Jersey City’s 2010 U.S. Census numbers.

County Building Cafeteria Closed: The employee cafeteria in the new Hudson County Plaza was closed almost this entire past week after rodent droppings were found near and possibly in the food there, according to officials.

Toll Collector Memories: About three of every four drivers on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway use E-ZPass, a trend that points to toll takers going the way of the ice truck. The Star-Ledger visited Turnpike Exit 14C to reminisce about the past and take stock of the future of the toll collectors.

Preview of Online History Collection: A year after starting a monumental project to photograph every statue, plaque and historical marker in Hudson County, the Hudson County Genealogical & Historical Society is providing an online glimpse of its progress.

Unidentified Woman Found Dead: The body of an unidentified middle-aged woman was recovered Saturday morning from the Hudson River near the Newport community.

Appeal Denied in 30-Year-Old Murder Case: A Jersey City man convicted of murder who has spent 30 years in prison lost another appeal last week and can look forward to what may be decades more behind bars.

Slain Couple Inspires Scholarship Fund: The Love Mike Nia Foundation, a nonprofit created by the friends of Jersey City carjacking victims Michael Muchioki and Nia Haqq, has so far provided two students with $1,500 scholarships for their college education.

Crime Blotter: A Jersey City man yesterday morning suddenly turned on his two roommates for no apparent reason and stabbed them multiple times; two men forced a Jersey City gas attendant into a sports utility vehicle at gunpoint Saturday evening before robbing him and releasing him two blocks away; two men were injured in Jersey City early Saturday when they and another friend were attacked by four men who were armed with knives and a machete; a woman was robbed of $31,000 in cash and $30,000 in jewelry when her SUV was snatched by a gunman in front of her Jersey City home Thursday evening; a fried chicken delivery man was robbed of $80 and a late-night food order by a gunman on Harrison Avenue Thursday.

Today’s Best Bets

Happy Halloween! There are two big events for kids today: Newport Centre Mall is throwing a Happy Halloween Haunting Party, complete with trick-or-treating in the mall, a coloring activity station and the opportunity to capture the moment with a photo (12 to 6 pm); later in the afternoon, the Historic Downtown SID is hosting a free Halloween Bash for Kiddos, featuring face painting, pictures and of course, candy (5 to 7 pm).

And for the kid in all of us, LITM and DJ Meghan McKee will be putting on a special Halloween edition of their monthly Detention! ’80s party (starts at 6 pm). The party features cocktail specials and discounts for those in costume.

The Iron Monkey Halloween Weekend closes out tonight with a Best Tattoo Contest (starts at 8 pm).

In Statewide News:

Blacks, Hispanics Take Brunt of Job Market Hit: Widespread layoffs across the nation have left few families untouched. However, the prospects in an uneven recovery are especially bleak for unemployed blacks and Hispanics, who came into the recession on a lower rung in the job market.

Battle Over Future of Speaker Post: The shadow war over who will be Assembly speaker has been waged by phone over the past week as Democratic power brokers dial their allies and party brethren to lock down support for their chosen candidates, party sources say.

State Looks to Save on Medicaid Expenses: New Jersey is seeking federal approval for major changes to its $11 billion Medicaid program, hoping to rein in what state officials and some non-government stakeholders say is an unsustainable escalation of spending.

Support for Same-Sex Marriage: Fifty-two percent of New Jersey voters believe same-sex marriages should be legal, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Friday.

More Than $200 Million in Hurricane Aid for New Jersey: The federal government in two months has in aid for New Jersey residents and businesses affected by Hurricane Irene, officials said this week.

Overdue Fines Racking Up: Licensed professionals such as doctors and accountants owe New Jersey $13.8 million in overdue fines and state officials concede they haven’t done enough to collect the money.

Rutgers Eyes India Partnership Grant: Rutgers University is applying for the first round of grants that the Obama administration will provide to help colleges and universities in the U.S. and India work together to set up joint research programs, expand dual-degree offerings and increase study-abroad opportunities.

For full listings, check out the Cultural Calendar.

Want your event listed on our calendar? You can submit it yourself — just click here and follow the simple instructions.

TODAY

The big Halloween party kicking off the weekend is the 2nd Annual Zombie Pub Crawl. Meet at Grove Street PATH station to get your makeup done (6 pm), or come already in your undead best and set off for the pub crawl a bit later on (8 pm). If you’re more of a stay-in-one-place kind of person, you can check out Shocktoberfest at Zeppelin Hall (starts at 5 pm), the Slaughterhouse Halloween Party at Boca Grande (starts at 10 pm), or the Dress to Kill party at Sushi Tango ($25-$35, starts at 10 pm).

When the kids get home from school, head over to Liberty Science Center’s Halloween Spooktacular, which features activities for children young and old as well as adults ($13-$15, 6 to 10 pm).

B-horror fans will have a difficult choice to make this evening, with two unique film events on offer. ArtHouse Productions will be screening the classic silent film Nosferatu with live musical accompaniment by Felz Kenny, Rudy Stamp and guests. This will be followed by a showing of Night of the Living Dead ($5, starts at 8 pm). Just up in Journal Square, also at 8 pm, the Loew’s will be showing The House on Haunted Hill with EMERGO!, a campy movie promotion gimmick that got a lot of attention back in the 1950s when this film was released ($5-$7).

If you’re happy to wait until later in the weekend to get your Halloween hijinks going, check out the Statue of Liberty Birthday Cruise celebrating the 125th anniversary of Lady Liberty showing Jersey City her backside. The cruise departs from Liberty State Park and includes a lavish buffet dinner plus front-row seats for tonight’s Macy’s fireworks show ($84, 6 pm). Some spaces are left, but they’re going fast.

TOMORROW

One of the most highly anticipated events of the year, this year’s Ghost of Uncle Joe’s party is moving indoors to get out of the snow and rain. For all the info about the bands and the scene, check out JCI‘s story. Proceeds benefit the Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery ($10 suggested, starts at 5 pm). And put the after-party on your list as well, featuring even more live bands at the Lamp Post (starts at 10:30 pm).

Several other groups are hosting fundraisers around town tonight, so you can’t go wrong. Ed’s Salvage Co.’s Masquerade Ball will benefit local arts and community organizations ($5 suggested, starts at 7:30 pm); Madame Claude Wine will host a Masquerade Wine Tasting Fundraiser for Creative Grove ($20, 6 to 8 pm); and the annual Hudson Pride Masquerade doubles as a farewell party for the outgoing executive director Nancy Caamaño ($20 suggested, 7 to 11 pm).

Also on tap tonight are a few Downtown costume parties. The three-night Iron Monkey Halloween Weekend kicks off tonight and features a $1,000 prize for the best costume (starts at 8 pm); LITM’s Annual Halloween Celebration promises the usual fun (starts at 5 pm); and newcomer Brightside Tavern is throwing its first Halloween party, too (starts at 8 pm).

The Loew’s never skimps on classic horror, least of all during Halloween weekend. Today’s program features Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, for fans of classic comedy and classic horror ($5-$7, 6 pm), as well as the ur-classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, with organ accompaniment, of course ($7-$9, 8:15 pm).

Before you dress up and head out, though, stop by the Urban Mission Church in the Hilltop for House Your Body, a free health show (2 to 5 pm).

SUNDAY

Today’s events are all about fun for kids and pets. Don’t miss Halloween in Paulus Hook, which features costume contests for the little ones as well as our furry friends (12 to 4 pm). And make sure to check out the Halloween Parade & Celebration hosted by the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association; please bring a non-perishable food item for the Festival Food Bank (10:15 am to 12 pm). Up in the Heights, the Riverview Neighborhood Association hosts a Halloween Dog Parade at Riverview-Fisk Park (11 am).

If you’re looking for a new best friend, head over to Grace Church Van Vorst for the Black Kitten Adoption Event to rescue black cats, which are killed in shelters more often than other cats (12:30 to 4:30 pm).

Other spots to check out for family-friendly Halloween festivities are Angel Ramos Park (1 to 3 pm) and 4th Street between Jersey Avenue and Coles Street (3 to 6 pm).

MONDAY

On the actual day of Halloween, there are two big events for kids: Newport Centre Mall is throwing a Happy Halloween Haunting Party, complete with trick-or-treating in the mall, a coloring activity station and the opportunity to capture the moment with a photo (12 to 6 pm); later in the afternoon, the Historic Downtown SID is hosting a free Halloween Bash for Kiddos, featuring face painting, pictures and of course, candy (5 to 7 pm).

And for the kid in all of us, LITM and DJ Meghan McKee will be putting on a special Halloween edition of its monthly Detention! ’80s party (starts at 6 pm). The party features cocktail specials and discounts for those in costume.

The Iron Monkey Halloween Weekend closes out tonight with a Best Tattoo Contest (starts at 8 pm).

H&M Opens in Newport: A two-level, 20,000 square foot location of the clothing retailer H&M opens today at Newport Mall, just in time for the holiday season.

Susan Kolb’s Dogs Impounded: The Jersey City owner of two dogs that committed violent attacks in the city saved their lives twice by promising to move them out of Jersey City. But they have been impounded again and their lives may again be in the balance.

Patrice O’Neal Stroke: Star comic and Jersey City resident Patrice O’Neal suffered a stroke last week; little additional information is available.

Statue of Liberty Anniversary: To commemorate the 125th anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty, the National Park Service is holding an open-to-the-public special series of events today at Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The events will conclude with a fireworks display.

In Statewide News:

Borrowing for Transportation Projects: With few lawmakers willing to talk about raising New Jersey’s gas tax during an election year, a special legislative committee agreed to borrow $1.3 billion to avert a shutdown of state transportation improvements.

State Team to Review School Funding: Acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf said yesterday that he has enlisted a team of nearly a dozen academics, researchers, and others to look at the effectiveness of the current School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) formula and help him come up with changes.

Decline in Traffic Deaths: Vehicle crashes killed 556 people in New Jersey in 2010 — 28 fewer than in 2009 — the lowest number in six decades and the fifth consecutive year of declines, according to a report released by the state police. However, motorcycle deaths climbed 6 percent to 72, alcohol-related deaths rose 4.3 percent and the 27 pedestrians killed in marked crosswalks was only one fewer than last year’s number.

Alternative-Fuel Vehicles Report: A new report from a working group of the state Board of Public Utilities examines the opportunities and barriers to promoting alternatives to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles in New Jersey.

SPC Student Center Groundbreaking: Officials at Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City broke ground yesterday on a six-story, 90,000-square-foot student center near McGinley Square.

Fulop Fundraiser: Ward E councilman and 2013 mayoral hopeful Steven Fulop added to his campaign war chest Tuesday night thanks to a standing-room only fundraiser at Zeppelin Hall in Jersey City.

Pipeline Opposition Heating Up Across the Hudson: The New York Times takes a look at the debate over the proposed Spectra natural gas pipeline that is currently seeking approval from federal regulators.

Bloomberg Supports MTA Extension to N.J.: New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg is pushing forward with a proposal to extend the MTA’s No. 7 train to New Jersey and get the project locked in before he leaves City Hall in two years. And Gov. Christie stated in a WCBS radio interview yesterday that he would support the project if New York state and the city contribute to the financing.

New Supermarket in McGinley Square: Hoping to increase the availability of fresh food, gourmet meals, and organic ingredients in household kitchens in Jersey City’s McGinley Square neighborhood, 64-year-old Mike Aziz and his son, Mike Jr., 36, have opened a new Key Food Supermarket at 113-115 Monticello Ave.

WomenRising Gets Verizon Cash: WomenRising, Inc., a Jersey City-based nonprofit has received a $10,000 grant from Verizon as part of the company’s Verizon for Domestic Violence Prevention and Education Program.

Crime Blotter: Three men were victims of a gunpoint carjacking at 3rd and Brunswick Streets Tuesday and police later located the 2007 Dodge Charger a short distance away; a high-speed chase yesterday ended when a fleeing SUV scraped across a building and hit three police cars that had boxed it in at Kennedy Boulevard and Communipaw Avenue; six boys were arrested in three fights yesterday at Dickinson High School.

Today’s Best Bets:

Drop by the Iron Monkey this evening for some great prices on seasonal brews as the bar makes way for their winter draft offerings (starts at 6 pm).

In Statewide News:

New State Education Offices: The Christie administration’s reorganization of the state education department is moving out into the field, with plans to create seven “regional achievement centers” that will serve as satellite bureaus that will focus on the bottom five percent of public schools.

Christie Rebuked by Judge Again: A state court judge has ruled against Gov. Christie’s administration for a second time in a lawsuit over whether the state can increase judges’ health insurance and pension contributions.

New Jerseyans Support Occupy Wall Street: New Jerseyans taking part in the Occupy Wall Street protest in New York City or a related demonstration in Philadelphia have the support of the state’s voters by a margin of 46 to 29 percent, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll published Thursday.

Lonegan Attacks Dems in Key Districts: Steve Lonegan and Americans for Prosperity today unleashed a six-figure cable TV and raido ad campaign against five targeted Democrats, three of whom occupy the cycle’s three battleground districts.

Disability-Insurance Brokers Criticize Tax Break Plan: An effort by Gov. Chris Christie and the state Legislature to reduce workers’ payroll taxes will backfire and force businesses to pay exorbitant disability insurance rate increases, two insurance brokers said Wednesday.

Missed Opportunities for Energy Cost Reductions: The state is failing to take advantage of a two-year-old program that offers huge opportunities to significantly reduce energy costs without laying out any capital, according to an advisory group.

Questions About Facebook Grant to Newark Schools: One of every three dollars of private money spent so far in Newark’s bid to reform its schools has gone to consultants and contractors, many with ties to Mayor Cory Booker and acting state Education Commissioner Chris Cerf, records show.

Medical School Report: Rutgers is getting the medical school it needs to compete for major grants, but questions remain about the future of UMDNJ and University Hospital in Newark, and the medical schools in South Jersey.