Guttenberg’s newest Councilman John D. Habermann, recently appointed by his council peers to fill the empty seat vacated by new Mayor Gerald Drasheff, is very happy to have the privilege to serve his town. Born in Teaneck, Bergen County, and raised in North Bergen and Guttenberg, he is a graduate of Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, N.J. In 1994, Councilman Habermann achieved a bachelor of science degree in business administration at Montclair State University, and in 1999 he achieved a juris doctorate degree from Seton Hall Law School/Newark Campus.
For the past five and one half years, he has been employed with Landamerica Financial Group in Parsippany, N.J., and is a lawyer with the firm, handling real estate title insurance claims for the company in New York/New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Councilman Habermann states that he has worked in various law firms prior to his present employment but has found his niche in his present firm and feels at home there. Furthermore, he has handled litigation such as real estate transactions, corporate, immigration, and municipal court violations, and has opened a private law practice in Guttenberg, specializing in general law, as an addendum to his present work, and says that he intends to build a family practice for the future!
Councilman Habermann tells us that he is of German/Irish descent, that he has been married to his lovely wife Shannon for five years, and they have a daughter named Olivia. His father John, Sr. was born in Guttenberg, and his loving mother Joan, now deceased, was from North Bergen. Councilman Habermann tells us that his father and Uncle Anthony, who was also born in Guttenberg and now lives in North Bergen, are both retired flight school examiners in Teterboro, Bergen County. They both were partners in their school called Teterboro Flight Academy in their heyday!
Moreover, Councilman Habermann tells us that professionally he has also achieved his N.J. Title Insurance License in 2005 after passing the state examination, and he is also a member of the New Jersey/New York Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the North Bergen Moose Lodge. He is also a member of the Delta Theta Phi, a legal fraternity; a member of the Irish American Law Society at Seton Hall Law School and a member of the Asian Pacific Islanders Law Society, also at the law school. Councilman Habermann further tells us that his wife’s maiden name is Ahern and that she was born in Guttenberg; moreover, he has a sister Linda who still lives in the Town of Guttenberg.
As for his leisure time, Councilman Habermann tells us that years ago he was an umpire for a Guttenberg Softball team and managed the CYO at Saint John Nepomocene Roman Catholic Church Parish in Guttenberg. He was also an altar boy, lector and usher at the church, He is a New York Yankees, New York Giants and Boston Celtics Basketball fan, he proudly states! He also personally plays golf and basketball and has traveled to the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada and cross-country USA. He works out at the gym, likes the Big Band Music of the 1940s to present day Rock and Roll. He is an avid reader on various topics, especially world history, and loves to read this Column, On The Streets Where We Live!
As for history, Councilman Habermann tells us that his great grandfather, John Joseph Daley, was a Guttenberg Volunteer Fireman in the 1880s, and that his family goes back a long way in Guttenberg, and now being a councilman, it is like a salute to his great grandfather! The councilman, who was a member of the Guttenberg Board of Education for eight years and served as a vice president, also tells us that as a councilman he wants to bring back pride to the town, improve the quality of life in the town and help build a park on the town’s waterfront for concerts and recreation. Moreover, he wants to work along with the town’s Board of Education to help create a multi-cultural center for children, as well as the population. As for Mayor Drasheff, he has known the mayor for approximately three years and wants to work closely with him for the betterment of Guttenberg.
Former Mayor Nicholas Cicco applauds the selection of Councilman Habermann to serve on the council, as he has known the new councilman’s father for many years, and says that the new councilman is a good boy who he knew as he was growing up as a youth. So presently, what is Councilman John Habermann planning to do? Well, he tells us that he is in need of a haircut and thus plans to go to his favorite hairstylist, <>Giorgio “Giorgio The Barber” Barlaam, a resident of Guttenberg whose shop is called Giorgio Hair Stylist in North Bergen. Yes, the new councilman looks out for his constituency..All The Best!
Deacon Eduardo J. Pons of Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church in Union City was appointed deacon at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, N.J. announced Archbishop John J. Myers of the Archdiocese. Congratulations Deacon Pons!
North Bergenites Melissa Muriel and Kaitlin Torres were recently named to the Principal’s List at Paramus Catholic High School in Bergen County. Leaders of tomorrow, make us proud!
United States Army Spec. Rudnell I. Potter, son of Miguel Arrendell and Damary E. Potter of West New York, recently participated in the “Spirit of America” performance held at both Rochester, New York and Worcester, Massachusetts. Army Spec. Potter is a gunner assigned to the Third United States Infantry Regiment, also called The Old Guard at Fort McNair, Washington, District of Columbia. Best wishes!
A Weehawken Patrolman and Motorcycle Unit Policeman named Juan Mejia, who also subs as a detective, is a very fine professional, with good manners and a straight-forward attitude. Patrolman Mejia proudly tells us that he will be married to his lovely wife Kimberley for 11 years this very month of February 2009, and that they have two children named Timothy and Alyssa. Mr. Mejia also tells us that he loves his profession on the Weehawken Police Force and truly appreciates being able to serve the community. Keep up the great work Police Officer Mejia!
Reader Thomas Troyer of Secaucus recently sent in a Letter to the Editor of the Hudson Reporter, thanking me for advising him about a book called “Do It Anyway,” which made him have a better outlook on human nature and society and thus gave him the gumption and initiative to announce his intention to run for the Secaucus Board of Education as a candidate. Well, I do thank Mr. Troyer for his readership and appreciation of my advice, and I leave Tommy Troyer with a little poem that I created during my Saint Peter’s College days in Jersey City. In regards to political-human nature, to wit: “In politics, you have many acquaintances, plenty of pals, but very few friends; and these statistics may change, according to the trends!” Watch the pitfalls Tommy and of course, “May the Force be with you!”…and so it goes…until next time…see you around town… MATT”
Please Note: Readers who would like to contribute to this column can do so by mailing your news items, along with your name, address and telephone to “Matthew Amato,” Columnist, c/o The Hudson Reporter, 1400 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Thank you.