Assemblyman Chiappone and wife indicted
Attorney General Anne Milgram announced that New Jersey Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone (D-31st Dist.) and his wife were indicted Wednesday on charges that they allegedly conspired to funnel more than $8,000 in state-issued paychecks for a legislative aide and a purported aide into their own personal bank accounts and into Chiappone’s 2005 Assembly campaign funds.
Chiappone represents the 31st District, which includes Bayonne and some of Jersey City.
The couple allegedly had $7,532 in paychecks issued to one legislative aide, who donated all of his checks to the campaign. The defendants allegedly diverted $4,299 in checks into their bank accounts for personal use, as well as a $629 paycheck issued to a woman they claimed was another legislative aide.
When the remaining checks from the male aide did get deposited into the campaign’s bank account, the defendants allegedly failed to include those contributions in reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).
Chiappone, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2003, lost the Democratic primary in June 2005. But he was elected to the Assembly again in November 2007. He is running for re-election in November.
Chiappone said last week he does not intend to resign his post, and will fight the charges in court.
Labor Day ad, editorial deadlines
Labor Day is a weekend away, with Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 7. Deadlines for the Midweek Reporter (Wednesday, Sept. 9) and the Bayonne Community News (Thursday, Sept. 10) are as follows:
Display advertising deadline – Thursday, Sept. 3 at 5 p.m.
Classified deadline – Friday, Sept. 4 at noon.
Editorial deadline – Friday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m.
Call (201) 798-7800 for further help.
Kitten adoption event
Liberty Humane Society and Companion Animal Trust are holding a Kitten Bonanza Adoption Event at City Hall, 280 Grove St. in Jersey City, this Sunday, Aug. 30.
Adoption fees have been discounted to $100 and include up-to-date vaccinations, deworming, flea treatment, spay/neuter, a complimentary month of pet insurance, a cardboard carrier and an adoption kit.
For more information, call (201) 547-4147 OR e-mail lhs@libertyhumane.org or CompanionAnimalTrust@yahoo.com.
Training dogs
The Liberty Humane Society of Jersey City is working hard on helping dogs find new families by increasing their adoptability by joining up with local businesses like Hounds On the Hudson.
Dogs can now attend training classes thanks to the generous offer of Kim Pamperin, owner of Hounds on the Hudson dog daycare and boarding in Guttenberg. Adopted shelter dogs are invited to attend classes free of charge to help sharpen their skills. Once they graduate from training, they can be tested for the Canine Good Citizen award. Training classes are offered all week long, and range from puppy kindergarten to advanced obedience, and specialty clinics such as agility and therapy dog training.
For more information, call Hounds On the Hudson at (201) 868-4830. The Liberty Humane Society can be reached at (201) 547-8380.