Councilwoman Adela Martinez, who served on the Guttenberg Town Council for eight years, attended her last meeting as a public official last week.
At the council meeting Dec. 14, Martinez handed in her keys to Town Administrator and Public Safety Director Michael Caliguiro after thanking the council and the public in the packed council chambers for the opportunity to serve.
Mayor Gerald Drasheff presented Martinez with a plaque recognizing her years of service. Martinez, 70, who also served a two-year term with the Guttenberg Board of Education, was completing her second four-year term with the council.
Martinez’s seat will be occupied by Councilwoman-elect Monica Fundora in January.
Guttenberg officials honored several for their service to the town.
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She continued, “My two brothers served the armed forces for a total of 53 years honorably. I wanted to be a nun, of course, but then I discovered boys and I said ‘I’m going to be a floozy’. My father said, ‘You can’t be a floozy, you need job security.’ So that’s how I became a teacher. Having served the town of Guttenberg these couple of years have really culminated the goal of service that our parents instilled in us.”
She said that while she will no longer be on the council, she plans to attend every meeting now as a member of the public.
Three former chiefs recognized
Three former Guttenberg chiefs of police were honored at the meeting for their service.
“It’s very appropriate that we did this during our 150th anniversary,” said Drasheff. “I’m a relative newcomer to Guttenberg, but one of the things that struck me during this year was the connection that people have to the town of Guttenberg who may have moved on, but they never really leave, and these gentlemen gave a lot of years of service through the town.”
Former Police Chiefs Joseph Malik, John Broking, and Richard Fogarty, who was unable to attend, received their New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Gold Retirement Card, honoring them for their years of service. Stevens Institute of Technology Police Chief Timothy Griffin, a representative of the NJ Association of Chiefs of Police, was also present at the event.
Longest continuous resident passes away
Drasheff announced that Mary Fogarty, no relation to former Chief Michael Fogarty, passed away right after Thanksgiving.
Mary had been the longest continuous resident of Guttenberg, said Drasheff.
“We were fortunate to have her with us at the start of the 150th anniversary in May of this year,” said Drasheff. “Unfortunately, she’s not going to be with us at the end of it in May of next year.”
Recognized anniversary committee members
Sixteen 150th Anniversary Committee members were recognized at the meeting for their work in organizing many of the events that occurred throughout the summer and into the fall, as well as the work they will continue to do until Guttenberg’s celebration is over in May 2010.
They included Caliguiro, Martha DiGiovanni, Larry Giancola, John Habermann, Delores Loppe, Capt. Joel Magenheimer, Kristen Reigh Springer, Guttenberg Board of Education Trustee Robert Tholen, Councilman Alfonso Caso, Councilwoman Donna Florio, Nancy Gregory, Gail Hoffman, Debbie Magenheimer, Guttenberg Housing Authority Commissioner Maryann Morro, Catherine Stumpf, and Guttenberg Housing Authority Chairperson – who was also the chairperson to the committee – Joanne Martin.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.