BPD vs.Puerto Rico: An Hispanic Heritage home run

Belleville kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with its annual softball tournament between members of the Belleville Police Department and Puerto Rico Police earlier this month.

Mayor Michael Melham and other local officials from the township and the school district also participated in the tournament played at the Carl Corino Softball Complex at Clearman Field at No. 8 School on Union Avenue.

This is the third year the township has hosted a team from the American commonwealth, where the game of baseball is very popular. Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, is a time to recognize the contributions and achievements of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

“A spirited but friendly ball game is a great way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month,” Melham said. “When we can come together and play a sport that is so beloved in so many of those countries, it’s a home run.”

As in past years, the games were the centerpiece of a celebration that also included music and food, celebrating the rich cultures.

Self defense class for Belleville women

The Belleville Police Department, in partnership with the Board of Education, is offering a Basic Self-Defense Course for Belleville residents 18 and older.

This free class will be a women only workshop and will include information on risk reduction and risk avoidance as well as instruction on a number of realistic handson techniques that will provide attendees with the knowledge to make decisions about safety and resistance, according to a press release about the event.

Ball hockey returns to Belleville

This course will be taught at the new state of the art Belleville Indoor Training Facility by certified Belleville Police Officers who specialize in self-defense tactics, the release said. No experience required. Space is limited so courtesy will be given to first time attendees and the class will be limited to the first 30 people that sign up, the release said.

The facility is located at 522 Cortlandt St. The class is scheduled for Oct. 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Volunteers help domestic violence victims

Rachel Coalition, the domestic violence division of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest NJ (JFS), is seeking volunteers for its Court Advocate Program.

Volunteers will learn how to aid domestic violence victims in a 40-hour hands-on training program that educates participants in how to help victims with emotional and administrative support as they await their restraining order hearings in Essex Family Court in Newark.

Training sessions begin Wednesday, Oct. 18. No formal legal experience or education is required for this volunteer position. Volunteers will have an opportunity to observe Family Court proceedings. For further information on the Court

Advocate Program and to schedule an interview, contact Tia-lee Dawson, tdawson@jfsmetrowest.org.

Each year, the Essex Family Court Domestic Violence Unit in Newark, NJ, presides over more than 6,000 cases of domestic violence. Since 2006, Rachel Coalition has placed trained Court Advocate volunteers in the Essex County Family Court waiting room to explain the restraining order process to victims, assist with the initial application and provide information about community services such as legal, counseling, shelters, as well as offer unconditional emotional support.

For more information, call (973) 7659050 or visit www.jfsmetrowest.org.

The Township of Belleville and Hockey in New Jersey (HNJ) have announced a formal collaboration to reintroduce ball hockey programming and academics and enrichment offerings for Belleville youth.

“The collaboration between the Township of Belleville and HNJ reflects our commitment to providing our young residents with enriching experiences and opportunities for growth,” said Mayor Michael Melham. “By bringing ball hockey to our community, we are nurturing the spirit of teamwork, physical fitness and camaraderie.”

The initiative will be centered at the Belleville Friendly House, with programming beginning this fall, according to a press release from HNJ.

HNJ, the second largest youth diversity hockey program in the United States, is committed to providing hockey programming at no cost for children who may not be well represented in the sport due to gender, race, ethnicity, disability or socioeconomic status.

HNJ provided hockey programming in Belleville in prior years, but it was discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic. The collaboration will enable Belleville residents ages 6-18 to participate in hockey programming, which will be offered by HNJ in partnership with the New Jersey Devils.

HNJ will also offer all Belleville participants virtual homework assistance in sessions facilitated by HNJ tutors.

To round out its offerings, HNJ will host virtual life skills workshops, with ageappropriate programming.

“Our organization is proud to work closely with the Township of Belleville to offer local youth the opportunity to learn, play and grow through the sport of hockey. Our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility means that Belleville children can now have access to the benefits of our program,” said Richard A. Giuditta Jr., chairman of the Board of Trustees of HNJ.

HNJ is a nonprofit charitable organization. In partnership with the New Jersey Devils and National Hockey League’s Hockey is for Everyone initiative, they provide participants the opportunity to learn and play ice hockey at no cost. To learn more about HNJ or make a donation to support programming, visit hockeyinnj.com.

“As someone who grew up in Belleville, I know firsthand the passion our community has for hockey. As kids, we would play street hockey, sharing a love for the game,” said Keith Veltre, co-founder and chief executive officer of HNJ.